Question

after a male midwife toad fertilizes a females eggs, he gathers the eggs around his legs. he carries the eggs and keeps them moist for many weeks. when it is time for the eggs to hatch, the toad places them in a calm pool of water. a scientist claims that these behaviors increase the midwife toads reproductive success. which observation best supports the scientists claim? choose 1 answer: a male midwife toads that carry their eggs use up a large amount of energy. b eggs that are carried by the midwife toad are eaten less often by predators. c male midwife toads attract the attention of female toads with a whistling sound.

Explanation:

• Option A: Using up a large amount of energy does not support the claim of increased reproductive success. It may even suggest a negative aspect.
• Option B: If eggs carried by the midwife toad are eaten less often by predators, more eggs will survive to hatch. This directly increases the reproductive success as more offspring are likely to be produced.
• Option C: Attracting female toads with a whistling sound is about mating (finding a mate), not about the success of the eggs (reproductive success in terms of offspring survival from eggs).

Answer:

B. Eggs that are carried by the midwife toad are eaten less often by predators.