Question

Scientists have been studying threats to coral reefs. The figure below shows where threats to reefs have increased (dark shading) and where they have decreased (light shading). Explain the most effective way that scientists could use this information to design a new study aimed at developing reef protections.

Maps show darker regions to have increased reef threats and the less shaded the lack of reef threats. The dark shaded areas can be found along the east coast of Florida, Cuba, and toward the coast of Brazil along with the Caribbean. Additional dark shaded areas can be seen at the north east coast of Australia


A. Scientists could compare environmental conditions in reefs located around Australia that are dark-shaded with those near Florida that are light-shaded to understand how they differ, because those reefs are far enough apart that there will be little overlap in their characteristics and the many differences will be more apparent.

B. Scientists could compare environmental conditions in reefs located around Florida that are dark-shaded with close-by, light-shaded reefs to understand how they differ, because those reefs are more likely to be similar in many ways than reefs that are far apart.

C. Scientists could compare environmental conditions in reefs randomly selected around the world to increase the chance that they differ in important ways.

D. Scientists could compare environmental conditions in reefs indicated in blue randomly selected from around the world to get the most variable set of conditions possible and to make good comparisons.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. Scientists could compare environmental conditions in reefs located around Florida that are dark-shaded with close-by, light-shaded reefs to understand how they differ, because those reefs are more likely to be similar in many ways than reefs that are far apart.

This is because that they can compare it. It is true!

Answer 2

Since you are trying to investigate the possible variables that contribute to reef threats, it is advisable that you do an environmental study between two reefs that have characteristics that are similar or are closely similar. With this, you will be able to identify which is the primary cause of reef threats. Thus the correct answer is B.