4) Consider the following claim about how a female blunthead cichlid can increase her
reproductive success:
Feeding offspring during mouthbrooding increases the chances that the
female's
offspring will
survive.
Which of the following observations best supports the claim?
(D)
When females feed their offspring, the offspring grow larger and can get
away from predators more quickly.
Females don't eat any of the algae they catch from the lake during the six-
week mouthbrooding period.
Offspring that can swim quickly after they leave the females' mouths can
escape predators more easily.



Answer :

The observation that best supports the claim that feeding offspring during mouthbrooding increases the chances of survival is: "When females feed their offspring, the offspring grow larger and can get away from predators more quickly." Explanation: 1. Feeding offspring during mouthbrooding allows them to grow larger, which can be beneficial for escaping predators. Larger offspring may have a better chance of surviving by being able to swim faster and outpace predators. 2. This observation highlights a direct link between feeding behavior and the survival advantage it provides to the offspring. 3. By enabling the offspring to grow and develop essential skills for survival, such as swimming quickly, feeding during mouthbrooding enhances the chances of their survival in the wild.