Final answer:
Poorly nourished frogs undergo metamorphosis at a later time compared to well-nourished frogs due to the lack of resources necessary for proper growth and development. Since frogs produce large numbers of offspring, they do not typically invest energy in nurturing them, affecting the maturation of those who are poorly nourished.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mutation of poorly nourished animals, such as frogs, differs from their well-nourished counterparts in the timing of their metamorphosis. For many organisms, nutrition plays a significant role in growth and development. For example, well-nourished frog tadpoles generally have the energy required for proper growth and can complete their metamorphosis in a typical timeframe. Conversely, poorly nourished tadpoles may undergo metamorphosis at a later time due to a lack of resources necessary for growth.
Frogs typically expend a great deal of energy to produce large numbers of offspring, which they do not necessarily nurture due to their sheer quantity. The tadpole stage requires different nutritional needs compared to the adult stage, and poorly nourished tadpoles may not develop as effectively, leading to delayed or less successful metamorphosis. Therefore, the correct response to how the mutation (likely meant to be maturation) of poorly nourished animals differs is that they undergo metamorphosis later.