carolina chickadees are cavity - nesting birds that initiate nest building at the same time of year as…

carolina chickadees are cavity - nesting birds that initiate nest building at the same time of year as golden paper wasps, a species that also nests in enclosed spaces. researchers observed that both species will settle in nesting boxes, but birds and wasps are not often observed co - occupying boxes, leading to the hypothesis that the two species compete for nesting sites. to test this hypothesis, the researchers installed nesting boxes throughout a nature preserve in the us state of north carolina, manipulated some of the boxes to exclude birds, and then monitored the boxes for two years. not only was the hypothesis validated, there was also a clear indication of competitive advantage for birds. which finding from the study, if true, would most directly support the texts characterization of the studys results? a) although only 15 instances of co - occupation of unmanipulated boxes by wasps and birds were observed over the course of the study, in a majority of those instances, wasps were already occupying the boxes when birds initiated nesting in them. b) wasps initiated nesting in manipulated boxes much more often than in unmanipulated boxes, and 80% of initial co - occupations of unmanipulated boxes resulted in abandonment by wasps but not by birds. c) even though overall usage of the nesting boxes by wasps and birds was high throughout the study, 24% of the manipulated boxes remained vacant each spring, while less than 4% of the unmanipulated nesting boxes remained vacant. d) birds and wasps both preferred to nest in unmanipulated boxes, but the timing of their nesting did not differ significantly between the two species.

carolina chickadees are cavity - nesting birds that initiate nest building at the same time of year as golden paper wasps, a species that also nests in enclosed spaces. researchers observed that both species will settle in nesting boxes, but birds and wasps are not often observed co - occupying boxes, leading to the hypothesis that the two species compete for nesting sites. to test this hypothesis, the researchers installed nesting boxes throughout a nature preserve in the us state of north carolina, manipulated some of the boxes to exclude birds, and then monitored the boxes for two years. not only was the hypothesis validated, there was also a clear indication of competitive advantage for birds. which finding from the study, if true, would most directly support the texts characterization of the studys results? a) although only 15 instances of co - occupation of unmanipulated boxes by wasps and birds were observed over the course of the study, in a majority of those instances, wasps were already occupying the boxes when birds initiated nesting in them. b) wasps initiated nesting in manipulated boxes much more often than in unmanipulated boxes, and 80% of initial co - occupations of unmanipulated boxes resulted in abandonment by wasps but not by birds. c) even though overall usage of the nesting boxes by wasps and birds was high throughout the study, 24% of the manipulated boxes remained vacant each spring, while less than 4% of the unmanipulated nesting boxes remained vacant. d) birds and wasps both preferred to nest in unmanipulated boxes, but the timing of their nesting did not differ significantly between the two species.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

  • Option A: Focuses on co - occupation instances but doesn't show competitive advantage.
  • Option B: Mentions wasps in manipulated boxes more often but the abandonment part (wasps abandon, birds don't) shows birds have an advantage. When boxes are manipulated (exclude birds), wasps use them more. But in unmanipulated boxes (where birds can be present), wasps abandon more often. This indicates competition and a competitive advantage for birds.
  • Option C: Compares vacancy rates of manipulated and unmanipulated boxes but doesn't clearly show competitive advantage for birds.
  • Option D: Talks about nesting preferences and timing but not about competition and advantage.

Answer:

B. Wasps initiated nesting in manipulated boxes much more often than in unmanipulated boxes, and 80% of initial co - occupations of unmanipulated boxes resulted in abandonment by wasps but not by birds.