Researchers hypothesized that a decline in the population of dusky sharks near the mid-Atlantic coast of North America led to a decline in the population of eastern oysters in the region. Dusky sharks do not typically consume eastern oysters but do consume cownose rays, which are the main predators of the oysters.

Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers' hypothesis?

Question

Accepted Answer

Cownose rays have increased in regional abundance as dusky sharks have decreased in regional abundance.

Answer

Declines in the regional abundance of dusky sharks' prey other than cownose rays are associated with regional declines in dusky shark abundance.

Answer

Eastern oyster abundance tends to be greater in areas with both dusky sharks and cownose rays than in areas with only dusky sharks.

Answer

Consumption of eastern oysters by cownose rays in the region substantially increased before the regional decline in dusky shark abundance began.