Question

Many fish species, such as fathead minnows/ release a pheromone when their skin cells are damaged/ Researchers placed pike, a predator of fathead minnows, in a choice chamber and released the minnow pheromone at one end of the chamber. The researchers observed that the pike oriented themselves toward the end of the chamber where the pheromone was released. Which of the following questions will best guide a follow-up investigation about the role of pheromones in locating prey? (A) How do pike determine that the fathead minnow pheromone is present in the water? (B) Why do pike prey on fathead minnows? (C) Do pike have natural predators in the environment? (D) Do pike release pheromones that are detected by fathead minnows?

Answer 1

The best question to guide a follow-up investigation about the role of pheromones in locating prey is How do pike determine that the fathead minnow pheromone is present in the water?

Option A is correct

Option A focuses specifically on the mechanism by which pike detect the fathead minnow pheromone and could involve investigating their sensory organs, the specific chemical properties of the pheromone, or the behavioral responses triggered by its presence. This information would further advance our understanding of how pheromones facilitate predator-prey interactions in aquatic ecosystems.

Then option C information imight be relevant to the overall predator-prey dynamics but isn't directly related to how pike sense and track prey using pheromones.