Use the following graph and information to answer the question below.
Flycatcher birds that migrate from Africa to Europe feed their nestlings a diet that is almost exclusively moth caterpillars. The graph shows the mean dates of arrival, bird hatching, and peak caterpillar season for the years 1980 and 2000.
The shift in the peak of caterpillar season is most likely due to ________.
A) pesticide use
B) earlier migration returns of flycatchers
C) an innate change in the biological clock of the caterpillars
D) global warming
E) acid precipitation in Europe

Question

Use the following graph and information to answer the question below.
Flycatcher birds that migrate from Africa to Europe feed their nestlings a diet that is almost exclusively moth caterpillars. The graph shows the mean dates of arrival, bird hatching, and peak caterpillar season for the years 1980 and 2000. 
The shift in the peak of caterpillar season is most likely due to ________.
A) pesticide use 
B) earlier migration returns of flycatchers 
C) an innate change in the biological clock of the caterpillars 
D) global warming 
E) acid precipitation in Europe

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The shift in the peak of caterpillar season is most likely due to global warming. The graph shows that the peak of caterpillar season has shifted earlier in both the bird arrival and hatching dates for the years 2000 compared to 1980. This is consistent with the effects of global warming on the timing of seasonal events, such as earlier springs and earlier peak food availability for migratory birds.

Use the Following Graph and Information to Answer the Question