A biologist hypothesizes that in some bird species, the females actively choose mates based on plumage details too subtle for humans to notice without specialized equipment, rather than only on overall brightness.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly support the biologist's hypothesis?
- A
Some bird species have very different plumage in different seasons.
- B
Female birds tend to invest more time in caring for offspring than males.
- Ccheck_circle
Spectral analysis revealed that females preferred males whose ultraviolet plumage patterns matched specific patterns absent in rejected males of similar overall brightness.
- D
Males of these species are generally more brightly colored than females.
Explanation
A pinpoints subtle UV pattern preferences distinct from overall brightness, exactly as the biologist predicts. B, C, and D are tangential to the discrimination claim.