water sample mayfly larvae bloodworms A many few B none many Mayfly larvae live only in clean, well-oxygenated water; bloodworms can tolerate low oxygen. Us...
Question 1 Report
| water sample | mayfly larvae | bloodworms |
|---|---|---|
| A | many | few |
| B | none | many |
Mayfly larvae live only in clean, well-oxygenated water; bloodworms can tolerate low oxygen. Using the table, which sample is the more polluted?
Answer Details
Mayfly larvae live only in clean, well-oxygenated water, so their absence signals pollution, while bloodworms tolerate low oxygen, so their abundance signals pollution. Sample B has no mayfly larvae and many bloodworms, both pointing to low oxygen and heavy pollution, making it the more polluted sample. Sample A, with many mayfly larvae and few bloodworms, is the cleaner water, so the two indicator species together show B is more polluted rather than the result being undecidable.
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