Question

certain species, such as hay’s spring amphipods (stygobromus hayi), lack functional eyes or ocular organs altogether and rely on other mechanisms for navigation. licheng yuan and colleagues investigated such mechanisms in the chinese red - headed centipede (scolopendra subspinipes mutilans), which has no organs with photoreceptors (light - detecting cells) but can sense and avoid sunlight. the researchers placed individual specimens in a clear container (container 1) connected to a container covered in black tape (container 2) and then exposed the containers to simulated sunlight. they observed a rapid increase in the temperature of the centipedes’ antennae with the onset of exposure, followed by the centipedes’ escape to container 2. based on their observations, the researchers concluded that physical receptors in the antennae are likely responsible for light detection in the centipedes. which additional finding from yuan and colleagues’ study, if true, would best support the researchers’ conclusion? a. when body segments other than the centipedes’ antennae were monitored, the temperature of these body segments were found to increase in the presence of sunlight. b. the centipedes showed the same tendency to move to container 2 when simulated sunlight was accompanied by artificially reduced temperatures. c. chinese red - headed centipedes are more proficient at detecting light than other centipede species are. d. when their antennae were covered with a reflective material, the centipedes remained exposed in container 1 for longer duration.

Explanation:

The conclusion is that centipedes' antennae have physical receptors for light detection. To support this, evidence should link antennae function directly to light response. If covering antennae with reflective material (blocking light detection via antennae) prevents escape to container 2 (the typical response to sunlight), it confirms antennae are responsible for light detection. Other options do not directly connect antennae to light perception: A links body segments to temperature, B conflates temperature with light, C compares species without testing antennae role.

Answer:

D. When their antennae were covered with a reflective material, the centipedes remained exposed in container 1 for longer duration.