The image below shows part of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. Notice the band of white sediments above the water line. This band is known as the “bathtub ring.”

How do you think the bathtub ring formed?

answer:

convection currents in the magma drive plate tectonics. heat generated from the radioactive decay of elements deep in the interior of the earth creates magma (molten rock) in the aesthenosphere. the aesthenosphere (70 ~ 250 km) is part of the mantle, the middle sphere of the earth that extends to 2900 km.

emerging idea only occurs as a raw idea that could appear out of nowhere. meanwhile, to reach scientific consensus , that idea must be structured and tested over and over again through various experiments. the scientific consensus transforms the raw idea into idea that is more reliable through the process of scientific elimination.

the correct answer is: b. pantala flavescens, because these organisms would have a high level of genetic variation due to sexual reproduction.  

because involves two organisms (parents) whose genetic material combines, sexual reproduction leads to genetic variation in new generations of offspring. the offspring is an unique organism, with new genome, more protected with the higher ability to adapted. this process is fundamental to evolution.