Scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Conducted

Multiple Choice

Scientists from The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science conducted a 6-year study on the effects of ocean temperature change on abundance of dominant intertidal species (barnacles and mussels) . These organisms can outcompete other intertidal organisms for space (and therefore distribution and abundance) . Suppose the scientists collected the following data on average intertidal zone temperatures (C°) and densities of mussel clumps and barnacle colonies (per square meter) :
$$\begin{array} { | l | l | l | l | } \hline { \text { Year } } & \text { Avg. Annual Intertidal Zone } & & \\ & \text { Temperature } \left( \mathrm { C } ^ { \circ } \right) & \text { \# Clumps Mussels/sq m } & \text { \# Colonies Barnacles/sq m } \\\hline 2004 & 6 ^ { \circ } & 6 & 22 \\\hline 2005 & 6.7 ^ { \circ } & 5.5 & 19 \\\hline 2006 & 7.3 ^ { \circ } & 5 & 17 \\\hline 2007 & 7.8 ^ { \circ } & 4.75 & 16.5 \\\hline 2008 & 8.2 ^ { \circ } & 4.5 & 16 \\\hline 2009 & 8.5 ^ { \circ } & 4.5 & 16 \\\hline 2010 & 8.7 ^ { \circ } & 4.5 & 16 \\\hline\end{array}$$
-Which is a correct interpretation of the data?

A) As average annual intertidal zone temperatures increased between 2004 and 2005, the number of colonies of barnacles also increased.
B) As average annual intertidal zone temperatures increased between 2007 and 2010, the number of mussel clumps proportionally decreased.
C) The greatest change in average annual intertidal zones temperatures occurred between 2004 and 2005.
D) Between 2004 and 2010, the number of colonies of barnacles increased proportionally with the number of mussel clumps.