Question

The shells of some marine snails are highly variable, with some snail shells being solid and others having stripes. Predation by birds is a major source of mortality for the snails. Scientists studying these snails found that while 47 percent of the snail population was striped, 56 percent of the snails eaten by birds were striped. What could scientists conclude about the snails?

Answer 1

that the stripes make the snails less camouflaged therefore they are more likely to be eaten.

Answer 2

Birds have preference to striped snails

Step-by-step explanation:

The total number of snail with stripes is lesser in number as compared to the total number of snails with solid or no color. Despite this, the birds prefer to feed on snail species that are in minority to the total snail population.

This represents likeliness of birds to feed on striped snails which constitutes nearly 56 percent.