Alligator Chart
Alligator Group Temperature Males Hatched Females Hatched Unhatched Total Eggs
A 29oC 84 9 7 100
B 30oC 69 25 6 100
C 31oC 44 48 8 100
D 32oC 11 74 15 100
E 33oC 2 68 30 100

Mel and Carl conducted an experiment to verify their hypothesis that male eggs of the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis only hatch at low temperatures. They conducted an experiment and their results were tabulated in the data table. Mel and Carl concluded very high temperatures killed unhatched alligators. What comment(s) would you make to Mel and Carl regarding their conclusions?
A) Their conclusion is correct. Nothing should be added or deleted.
B) Although they are correct, more eggs die at higher temperatures, but only males hatch at low temperatures and females only hatch at high temperatures.
C) They could say that as temperatures increase, more eggs die; an appropriate conclusion based on the data is that temperature really has no effect on gender.
D) They could amend their conclusion and say that the higher temperatures result in more alligators dying and that the gender of hatchlings is incubation-temperature dependent.