Question

Kendi and Brett find that certain beetle species are only found in large fragments. Brett proposes that the edges around smaller fragments lead to the interior of these habitats being dry. If certain beetles are not found in smaller habitats because the conditions are too dry and thus they must disperse to find suitable habitats and other mates, this is an example of a (n) _______________ explanation.

A) Mechanistic explanation
B) Functional explanation
C) Behavioral explanation
D) Adaptive explanation

Answer 1

The scenario described represents an adaptive explanation, where beetle species exhibit adaptations to environmental changes caused by habitat fragmentation, such as drier conditions in smaller fragments leading to dispersal.

Step-by-step explanation:

If Kendi and Brett find that certain beetle species are only found in large habitat fragments and attribute their absence in smaller fragments due to drier conditions, prompting these beetles to disperse for suitable habitats and mates, this situation exemplifies an adaptive explanation. An adaptive explanation suggests that species have developed certain traits or behaviors that allow them to survive and reproduce in changing environments. Adaptations can be morphological, physiological, or behavioral, like the preferential oviposition of the Karner blue butterfly on wild lupine, illustrating a behavioral adaptation tied to organismal ecology.

In the context of habitat fragmentation, larger fragments can maintain greater species richness and provide a more suitable living environment for certain species. Smaller fragments may not support viable populations due to altered ecological interactions, like competition and predation, as seen in cases of ecological meltdown. This leads to an increased need for the organisms to adapt or disperse to sustain their populations, hence showing an adaptive response to the environment.