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Ocean-dwelling (marine) iguanas and land iguanas inhabit the Galapagos Islands. Some

scientists believe that both types of iguanas diverged from a common ancestor. Marine

iguanas eat algae. Land iguanas feed on cacti. Algae are more abundant in the ocean than

cacti are on the islands. Both species lay their eggs in the sand.

Rats, cats, and goats have been introduced to the islands by humans. Rats feed on

iguana eggs, cats eat baby iguanas, and goats eat cacti.


Which population of iguanas, marine or land, would you expect to be larger? Support your answer.

Population of iguana: ______________________

Verified Answer :

taskmasters

I would expect that the marine population of iguanas would be larger than the population of the land iguanas. The above text states that both the land and marine iguanas lay their eggs in the sand and that the rats living on the Galapagos Islands eat the eggs buried in the sand. It also states that the food sources are more abundant in the ocean than on the land. So, if we assume that an equal number of land and marine iguana eggs hatch and an equal number make it to their respective food sources, the marine iguana has a greater chance of surviving as its food source is more abundant.