A student observes several species of plants growing in a drainage ditch. Some species have short roots, while others have long roots. During periods of heavy rain, the ditch fills with fast-moving water, which uproots more plants that have short roots than long roots.

Question

Which short-term effect will most likely result from a year with more heavy rain than normal?





Most plants in the ditch will be plants with short roots.

Most plants in the ditch will be plants with long roots.

There will be no change in the numbers of plants with long roots and short roots.

There will be an equal number of plants in the ditch with long roots and short roots.

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Answer 1

Most plants in the ditch will be plants with long roots.

Since heavy rain is uprooting more plants with short roots compared to plants with long roots, over time the population of plants with long roots will likely increase in the ditch. This is because they are better adapted to withstand the effects of heavy rain and fast-moving water, allowing them to survive and reproduce more successfully compared to plants with short roots.