Question

burt kotler and colleagues showed that high moonlight intensity inhibits the activity of the greater egyptian gerbil (gerbillus pyramidum), a finding explicable in terms of benefits and costs: greater lunar intensity may enable the gerbils to increase foraging success enough to offset the higher chance of detection by predatory foxes or owls. though many other nocturnal mammals respond to lunar intensity variations similarly to greater egyptian gerbils, mohol bushbabies (galago moholi) display the opposite pattern, as their heavy reliance on visual foraging results in a different balance of reward and risk.
which choice best describes the function of the reference to \heavy reliance on visual foraging\ in the text as a whole?
a) it emphasizes an attribute of mohol bushbabies that enables them to respond to lunar intensity variations more rapidly than greater egyptian gerbils and many other nocturnal mammals do.
b) it identifies a characteristic of mohol bushbabies that explains why they do not reduce their activity under high lunar intensity like greater egyptian gerbils and many other nocturnal mammals do.
c) it describes a behavioral pattern displayed by mohol bushbabies that is inconsistent with how they would be expected to respond to high lunar intensity based on benefits and costs.
d) it presents a trait of mohol bushbabies that serves as evidence for the assertion that greater egyptian gerbils are not the only nocturnal mammals whose activity is inhibited by high lunar intensity.

Explanation:

The text first mentions that high moonlight intensity inhibits the activity of the greater Egyptian gerbil. Then it says Mohol bushbabies display the opposite pattern. The "heavy reliance on visual foraging" is the reason for this opposite pattern. Let's analyze each option:

• Option A: There is no mention of responding more rapidly in the text.
• Option B: Since they rely on visual foraging (which is more effective in high moonlight), it explains why they don't reduce activity like the gerbils. This is correct.
• Option C: The text shows it is consistent with their foraging method (benefit - cost balance).
• Option D: The trait is not presented as evidence for other mammals being inhibited. It's about why Mohol bushbabies are not.

Answer:

B. It identifies a characteristic of Mohol bushbabies that explains why they do not reduce their activity under high lunar intensity like greater Egyptian gerbils and many other nocturnal mammals do.