A Population from Higher Latitude of an Intertidal Rocky Shore

Question

A population from higher latitude of an intertidal rocky shore species
A) Will have individuals that always function at lower latitudes better than local individuals.
B) Will have individuals, if transplanted to lower latitudes that tend to function better lower down in the intertidal than higher in the intertidal
C) Will have individuals, if transplanted to lower latitudes that tend to function better higher up in the intertidal than lower down
D) Will have individuals that never can survive at lower latitudes.

Accepted Answer

Individuals from higher latitudes, when transplanted to lower latitudes, tend to function better lower down in the intertidal zone than higher up. This is because lower down in the intertidal zone, conditions are more similar to the cooler, more stable environments found at higher latitudes, such as less exposure to extreme temperatures and desiccation stress.