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) :
$$\begin{array} { | l | l | l | l | } \hline { \text { Year } } & \text { Avg. Annual Intertidal Zone } & & \\ & \text { Temperature } \left( \mathrm { C } ^ { \circ } \right) & \text { \# Clumps Mussels/sq m } & \text { \# Colonies Barnacles/sq m } \\\hline 2004 & 6 ^ { \circ } & 6 & 22 \\\hline 2005 & 6.7 ^ { \circ } & 5.5 & 19 \\\hline 2006 & 7.3 ^ { \circ } & 5 & 17 \\\hline 2007 & 7.8 ^ { \circ } & 4.75 & 16.5 \\\hline 2008 & 8.2 ^ { \circ } & 4.5 & 16 \\\hline 2009 & 8.5 ^ { \circ } & 4.5 & 16 \\\hline 2010 & 8.7 ^ { \circ } & 4.5 & 16 \\\hline\end{array}$$
-How would information gleaned from this project enable additional studies of organismal biodiversity and climate change?

A) Scientists could use their data analysis to predict future changes in biodiversity of nondominant (more rare) intertidal marine organisms as they respond to variation in climate change.
B) Scientists could use their data analysis to predict changes in biodiversity of terrestrial organisms in temperate forests as they respond to variation in climate change.
C) Scientists could use their data analysis to predict the impact of average rainfall on biodiversity of intertidal marine organisms.