Fireflies are nocturnal beetles that emit flashes of light to attract mates.A scientist studying the firefly population over the past 5 years observes that the firefly population has declined significantly as the area that she has been studying has become more developed (more buildings).The scientist proposes a series of hypotheses to explain the decline.Which of her hypotheses is most likely to be correct?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the firefly population is declining as the area becomes more developed suggests that anthropogenic factors such as artificial light are having an effect. Of the proposed hypotheses, only option B directly addresses the effect of artificial light on the firefly's mating behavior. The excess of artificial light prevents females from seeing the male's flashing mating signal, which may explain the decline in the population. Option A does not explain why the population is declining, and option C suggests an unlikely scenario where evolution occurs within a five-year time span. Thus, option B is the best choice.

Fireflies Are Nocturnal Beetles That Emit Flashes of Light to Attract