Question

Kenneth and Catherine Lohmann of the University of North Carolina explored the orientation or direction-finding abilities of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings under varying magnetic conditions. Hatchlings were placed in a tank of water in a laboratory either in the natural magnetic field of the earth OR in a reversed magnetic field in which north and south were flipped. The researchers then measured the direction that the hatchlings swam. The experiments were carried out in the dark and at night since that is when most newly hatched turtles migrate from their sandy nests into the ocean.What can be tested with this experimental design?

A) While crawling across the beach, hatchlings use earths magnetic field to find the sea
B) Hatchlings prefer sandy beaches to rocky beaches
C) Turtles only hatch at night
D) Hatchlings have the ability to orient using magnetic fields while swimming

Answer 1

Option D, Hatchlings have the ability to orient using magnetic fields while swimming

Step-by-step explanation:

In this experiment the main objective of the researchers is to determine the capabilities of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings to find their direction of movement by using the magnetic field of earth or any other magnetic field source.

Thus, magnetic field is the independent variable in this experiment and way finding abilities of the loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings is the dependent variable.

Hence, option D is correct