Question

Kendi proposes that the reason some beetles are no longer present in smaller habitats is because they tend to be rare and thus in smaller habitats ecological stressors could lead to high mortality rates. This is an example of a (n) _______________ explanation.

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

Answer 1

Kendi's proposal that beetles are no longer present in smaller habitats due to rarity and high mortality rates from ecological stressors is an example of a functional explanation in organismal ecology.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question refers to a hypothetical scenario presented by someone named Kendi, who suggests that the disappearance of beetles in smaller habitats is due to their rarity and resulting high mortality rates from ecological stressors. This scenario is an example of a functional explanation, which involves understanding the purposes or consequences of biological structures and processes.

In organismal ecology, researchers explore how adaptations help individuals survive in their habitats. These adaptations can be morphological, physiological, or behavioral, as seen in species like the specialist Karner blue butterfly that relies on wild lupine for survival.

In this context, a functional explanation would consider why certain traits are advantageous or disadvantageous for survival in specific ecological contexts, leading to the presence or absence of a species. The beetle's rarity in smaller habitats could be functionally related to their inability to cope with environmental stressors, leading to their decline or local extinction.