Climate change is affecting the chemistry of the world's oceans. In particular, the ocean water is becoming more acidic. For purple sea urchins, this poses problems as their calcium-based exoskeletons may dissolve in acidic conditions. In a certain population of purple sea urchins, some individuals possess a trait that makes their exterior more resistant to acid. If global climate change continues (as predicted) to make ocean water more acidic, how might this population of purple sea urchins evolve in response to this increased acidification? A:Purple sea urchins with a trait of having shorter, more flexible spines would become more common. B:Purple sea urchins with a trait that make their exoskeletons less resistant to dissolving in acidic water would become more common. C:Purple sea urchins with a trait that make their exoskeletons resistant to dissolving in acidic water would become more common. D:Purple sea urchins with a trait of having longer, more rigid spines would become more common.

Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (MindTap Course List)
5th Edition
ISBN:9781305117396
Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Chapter4: Energy And Metabolism
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Climate change is affecting the chemistry of the world's oceans. In particular, the ocean water is becoming more acidic. For purple sea urchins, this poses problems as their calcium-based exoskeletons may dissolve in acidic conditions. In a certain population of purple sea urchins, some individuals possess a trait that makes their exterior more resistant to acid. If global climate change continues (as predicted) to make ocean water more acidic, how might this population of purple sea urchins evolve in response to this increased acidification? A:Purple sea urchins with a trait of having shorter, more flexible spines would become more common. B:Purple sea urchins with a trait that make their exoskeletons less resistant to dissolving in acidic water would become more common. C:Purple sea urchins with a trait that make their exoskeletons resistant to dissolving in acidic water would become more common. D:Purple sea urchins with a trait of having longer, more rigid spines would become more common.
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