A student observes several species of plants growing in a drainage ditch. Some species have short roots while others have long roots. During periods of heavy rain the ditch fills with fast moving water, which uproots more plants that have short roots than long roots. Which short-term effect will most likely result from a year with more heavy rain than normal

Most plants in the ditch will be plants with long roots

Explanation: The evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin tells about the survival of the fittest, which is related to the mechanism of natural selection in species.

The concept of survival of fittest suggests that those organisms who can easily adjust according to their changing environment are better in surviving and reproducing.

In this case, the periods of heavy rain indicates the changing environment and only those plant with long roots survive. Hence, later on most plants in the ditch will be plants with long roots as they are better adapted to the heavy rain as compared to those having short roots.

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OPTIONS:

a. Most plants in the ditch will be plants with long roots.  b. Most plants in the ditch will be plants with short roots.  c. There will be no change in the numbers of plants with long roots and short roots.  d. There will be an equal number of plants in the ditch with long roots and short roots.

a. Most plants in the ditch will be plants with long roots

Explanation:

Since the species of plants that have long roots are better adapted to withstand being washed away by fast moving water in the drainage ditch during heavy rain, the short-term effect that will most likely result in a year that has more heavy rain than normal is that majority of the plants that would be found surviving in the ditch will be plants with long roots. They are better adapted to surviving in the drainage ditch during heavy downpour, when compared to plants with short roots.