Question

snail leeches are a type of predatory worm. after a snail leech lays its eggs, it covers the eggs with its body. after the eggs hatch, the snail leech stays with its young for about a month. during this time, the parent snail leech does not eat.
a scientist claims that these behaviors increase the snail leechs reproductive success.
which observation best supports the scientists claim?
choose 1 answer:
a snail leeches that cover their eggs lose weight as a result of not eating.
b snail leeches reproduce once per year.
c eggs that are covered by a parents body are eaten less often by predators.

Explanation:

The scientist's claim is about reproductive success. Reproductive success is related to the survival of offspring. If eggs covered by the parent's body are eaten less often by predators, more offspring will survive. This directly supports the idea that the behavior (covering eggs) increases reproductive success. Option A is about the parent's weight loss (not related to offspring survival). Option B is about the frequency of reproduction (not about the success of each reproductive event in terms of offspring survival).

Answer:

C. Eggs that are covered by a parent's body are eaten less often by predators.