[Campbell Biology P.1070] The text describes the impact of climate change on caribou reproduc... | Practice Question

The text describes the impact of climate change on caribou reproduction in Greenland. Which of the following best explains the decline in caribou offspring production since 1993?

  • A: Increased average spring temperatures directly killed caribou calves.
  • B: The caribou migration timing shifted due to warmer temperatures, leading to insufficient nutrition.
  • C: A mismatch occurred between caribou arrival at calving grounds and the availability of nutritious plants due to earlier plant sprouting.
  • D: Caribou adapted by migrating earlier, but plants did not sprout in time.

Explanation

The text explains that caribou migration is triggered by day length, so their arrival at calving grounds remained consistent. However, due to increased spring temperatures, plants sprouted two weeks earlier. This created a mismatch between the caribou's arrival and the availability of nutritious plants, leading to a decline in offspring production.