Question

Tinbergen and his co-workers collected gull eggs and painted 69 of them white and left 68 of them with their natural color. (Statistically, these numbers are close enough to be considered equal.) The researchers then scattered the eggs next to a gull breeding area and observed from a nearby blind. Predation rates were recorded for white versus natural colored eggs. The white interior of the shell is not camouflaged and attracts predators to the nest. Therefore, the gulls remove the shells to decrease predation. Which step of the scientific method is represented by the following statement?

Answer 1

The experiments on buntings and butterflies, gull eggs, and guppies' coloration all exemplify how one species' responses to threats can drive natural selection in another species, in the context of adaptations for protecting offspring and survival.

Step-by-step explanation:

The laboratory experiments on yellow buntings and butterflies with and without eyespots, as well as the comparison of gull egg predation rates and the research on Trinidad guppies' coloration by John Endler, provide insights into how one species' response to information can affect natural selection in another species.

The data showing yellow buntings' fleeing behaviors when encountering butterflies suggest an evolutionary pressure on the butterflies to either maintain or lose their eyespots. Similarly, the gulls removing white eggshells and Endler's observations on guppy coloration in different predation scenarios indicate how behavioral and physical traits can evolve in prey species due to predation pressure.

There is evidence that protecting offspring and avoiding predation are significant drivers of adaptation and natural selection. Camouflaged egg coloration, for instance, helps reduce visibility to predators, and variations in guppy coloration can be tied to predation levels. These studies illustrate that a species' adaptations, such as coloration or behavior, can directly influence the survival and reproductive success of both their own and other species within an ecosystem.