Consider the following claim about how a female European earwig can increase her reproductive success:

Question

Grooming eggs increases the chances that the female's offspring will survive.
Which of the following observations best supports the claim?

Answer 1

To best support the claim that grooming eggs increases the chances of the female European earwig's offspring surviving, you would want an observation that directly correlates egg grooming behavior with increased survival rates of the offspring. Here are examples of observations that could support this claim:

1. Higher Survival Rates in Groomed Eggs: A study showing that eggs that were groomed by the mother had a significantly higher survival rate than those that were not groomed.

2. Healthier Offspring: Evidence that offspring from groomed eggs exhibit fewer signs of disease or better overall health compared to those from non-groomed eggs.

3. Reduced Predation: Observations that offspring from groomed eggs experience lower rates of predation due to cleaner eggs that may be less detectable to predators.

4. Improved Development: Data showing that offspring from groomed eggs develop faster or more successfully to later life stages compared to those from non-groomed eggs.

Any of these types of observations would provide strong support for the claim.