As part of lab this week you will test for pattern of distri

As part of lab this week, you will test for pattern of distribution at small scales, where organisms may show random, regular, or clumped distribution. Clumped distributions are particularly interesting because they may emerge from a patchy distribution of underlying conditions or from mutual attraction within individuals. Let’s say that you observe several dense patches of jellyfish in Puget Sound. How could you tell whether these patches were caused by locally good conditions or because jellyfish benefit from being in a group?

A) If jellyfish benefit from being in a group, then their density variance to mean ratio will decline over time

B) If jellyfish deplete locally good conditions, then their density variance to mean ratio will decline over time.

C) If jellyfish benefit from being in a group, then thinning a patch will improve the performance of remaining jellyfish.

D) If jellyfish occur in locally good conditions, then thinning a patch will improve the performance of remaining jellyfish.

Solution

Answer:

A- True (If jellyfish benefit from being in a group, then their density variance to mean ratio will decline over time)

B- False (If jellyfish deplete locally good conditions, then their density variance to mean ratio will decline over time)

C- False (If jellyfish benefit from being in a group, then thinning a patch will improve the performance of remaining jellyfish)

D- True (If jellyfish occur in locally good conditions, then thinning a patch will improve the performance of remaining jellyfish)