Proctor's experiments with water mites that prey on copepods suggested that:

a. the copepods' vibrational frequencies vary according to predator learning as a result of frequency-dependent selection

b. pre-existing sensory bias gives males that mimic copepod vibrations a reproductive advantage.

c. the asymmetry of sex is reversed, because male water mites give copepods as "gifts" to females.

d. the mites display variation in prey choice depending on which species of copepod is most abundant at a given time.

e. copepods mimic the appearance and behavior of the water mites, scaring away their main predator.

Proctor's experiments with water mites suggested that both c. and e. could be possible explanations for the behavior observed. On one hand, Proctor observed that male water mites would give copepods as "gifts" to females, suggesting a reversal of asymmetry in sex.

On the other hand, Proctor also observed that copepods may be mimicking the appearance and behavior of the water mites, which could scare away their main predator.It is important to note that Proctor's experiments were not definitive and there could be other explanations for the observed behavior.

However, these two possibilities provide insight into the complex interactions between species in an ecosystem. The idea of male water mites giving gifts to females challenges traditional assumptions about gender roles and mating behavior in the animal kingdom. The idea of copepods mimicking the appearance and behavior of water mites demonstrates the evolutionary adaptations that can occur in response to predation. Overall, Proctor's experiments highlight the importance of studying ecological interactions in order to better understand the natural world.

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mikesmalling mikesmalling · Answer 2 · 2024-10-10T00:34:22-04:00

The correct answer is: a. the copepods' vibrational frequencies vary according to predator learning as a result of frequency-dependent selection.

Proctor's experiments with water mites and copepods demonstrated that the copepods' vibrational frequencies varied over time in response to the frequency-dependent selection imposed by the water mites that prey on them. This means that as the mites became more effective at capturing copepods with certain vibrational frequencies, the copepods that had different frequencies became more successful and eventually outnumbered the others. This is an example of coevolution between predator and prey, in which each species exerts selective pressure on the other, leading to a dynamic, ongoing evolutionary arms race.

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