Question

question 9 of 10
a scientist collected information about a population of salamanders in a riverbank.
salamander population over time

year	number of individuals
1985	40
1995	42
2005	5
2015	7

in 2004, a severe flood occurred. which claim best explains the data?
a. the ecosystem was unstable until the flood occurred.
b. the flood made the ecosystem less stable, but it recovered by 2015.
c. the flood did not affect the stability of the ecosystem.
d. the flood made the ecosystem less stable, and it has not yet recovered.

Explanation:

Before 2004, the population was increasing steadily. After the 2004 flood in 2005, the population dropped to 5 and only increased slightly to 7 by 2015, indicating instability and lack of full - recovery.

Answer:

D. The flood made the ecosystem less stable, and it has not yet recovered.