Question

26,766 Learners found this answer helpful

due to increased melting of the arctic sea ice, many of these organisms are unable to gather sufficient amounts of food or raise offspring to maturity. based on this information, which of the following statements is a reasonable conclusion about the arctic ecosystem? a. the number of predators is an nonliving limiting factor because it affects the number of consumers that can eat producers b. the number of offspring produced is an nonliving limiting factor because it affects the number of prey that predators can eat c. temperature is an nonliving limiting factor because it affects the amount of sea ice available for animals to live on d. sunlight is an nonliving limiting factor because it affects the number of producers available for other organisms to eat

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Predators are living (biotic) factors, not nonliving (abiotic), so A is incorrect.
• Option B: Number of offspring is a biotic factor (related to living organisms' reproduction), not nonliving, so B is incorrect.
• Option C: Temperature is an abiotic (nonliving) limiting factor. In the Arctic, temperature affects sea ice availability, which impacts animals' habitat and food access. This matches the context of melting sea ice affecting organisms.
• Option D: Sunlight affecting producers is true, but the problem's context is about melting sea ice (related to temperature/sea ice for animals), not direct sunlight - producer relationship as the main conclusion here. So C is the most reasonable.

Answer:

C. Temperature is an nonliving limiting factor because it affects the amount of sea ice available for animals to live on