Whale species Typical adult body length (meters) Average time to filter all engulfed water (seconds) Average number of lunges per dive deeper than
\[50\] meters
fin
\[18-22\]
\[31.30\]
\[3.95\]
humpback
\[11-17\]
\[17.12\]
\[6.28\]
minke
\[7-10\]
\[8.88\]
\[7.48\]
blue
\[24-34\]
\[60.27\]
\[4.02\]
Some whale species practice lunge feeding, in which they lunge toward prey with their mouths open at wide angles, collect the prey and the surrounding water, and then filter out the water through baleen plates in their mouths. Although the volume of water engulfed increases with whales’ body length, the surface area of whales’ baleen plates, which influences the rate at which water can be filtered, does not increase with body length to the same degree, which helps explain why ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) minke whales and humpback whales show similar average filter times.
A
minke whales and humpback whales show similar average filter times.
(Choice B) blue whales show the longest average filter time and the highest average number of lunges per dive.
B
blue whales show the longest average filter time and the highest average number of lunges per dive.
(Choice C) humpback whales show an average of 6.28 lunges per dive.
C
humpback whales show an average of 6.28 lunges per dive.
(Choice D) fin whales show a longer average filter time than minke whales do.
D
fin whales show a longer average filter time than minke whales do.
1 answer
The best choice to effectively complete the statement is:
(Choice A) minke whales and humpback whales show similar average filter times.
This choice highlights a relevant observation about the average filter times of minke and humpback whales in the context of lunge feeding, supporting the explanation regarding the relationship between body length, filter time, and the efficiency of feeding among different whale species.
