Biologist Dr. Mehta hypothesizes that certain plants distinguish between being touched by an insect and being touched by inanimate objects such as raindrops, mounting defensive responses only to the former. Skeptics suggest plants respond to all touch in the same way.
Which experimental finding, if true, would most strongly support Dr. Mehta's hypothesis against the skeptics?
- A
Insect populations vary substantially with the seasons.
- Bcheck_circle
Plants exposed to insect-caused vibrations produced more defensive chemicals than plants exposed to raindrop vibrations of comparable magnitude, despite both being mechanical stimuli.
- C
Some plant species produce chemicals that deter herbivores.
- D
Plants are known to respond to changes in light and temperature.
Explanation
A directly contrasts equivalent mechanical stimuli, with plants responding only to the insect signature, supporting Mehta's discrimination claim. B, C, and D are tangential.