Question
Select the best evidence to support the statement "Rocky river bottoms are vital to the Eastern hellbenders' lifecycle."
The Eastern hellbender, a mottled and wrinkly salamander, can reach unexpected sizes but remains hidden to most visitors to North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest.
"Even though they are these giant salamanders, they blend right into the bottom," said Jeff Humphries, a wildlife biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. "People often float right over top of two-foot salamanders and never notice."
This nocturnal amphibian often hides under the same rock for its entire adult life span-up to thirty years-emerging at night to feed largely on crayfish. In recent efforts, Forest Service biologists who manage these waters have reached out to educate the thousands of people who enjoy the same streams while swimming, tubing, and boating. These same recreationists unknowingly disturb and destroy hellbender habitat.
The Eastern hellbender, a mottled and wrinkly salamander, can reach unexpected sizes but remains hidden to most visitors to North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest.
"Even though they are these giant salamanders, they blend right into the bottom," said Jeff Humphries, a wildlife biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. "People often float right over top of two-foot salamanders and never notice."
This nocturnal amphibian often hides under the same rock for its entire adult life span-up to thirty years-emerging at night to feed largely on crayfish. In recent efforts, Forest Service biologists who manage these waters have reached out to educate the thousands of people who enjoy the same streams while swimming, tubing, and boating. These same recreationists unknowingly disturb and destroy hellbender habitat.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best evidence to support the statement "Rocky river bottoms are vital to the Eastern hellbenders' lifecycle" is the information that the Eastern hellbender hides under rocks on the river bottom for most of its adult life and emerges at night to feed. This indicates that the rocky river bottom provides essential shelter and habitat for the hellbender, underscoring its importance in the salamander's lifecycle. Additionally, the mention of biologists working to educate people about disturbances to hellbender habitat further highlights the critical role that rocky river bottoms play in the species' survival.