Barnacles and mussels are filter feeders that attach themselves to rocks in the ocean. They eat by filtering small particles of food from the ocean water as it flows over them. A scientist observed a dense colony of barnacles covering the surface of a rock. The mussels were only able to attach to a few, small crevices on the same rock. Evaluate this observation and explain a limiting factor that is affecting the barnacles and mussels on the ocean rock

The barnacles are only able to attach themselves to surfaces in the water. Since the surface is limited, barnacles are attaching themselves to the other barnacles, crowding the rock. The muscles were not able to grow or attach themselves off the surface of the rock. Same thing with the mussels that are growing on the rock. So not only barnacles are crowding the rock, but Mussels as well are crowding the rock.

Explanation:

c. earths continental crust is thicker than its lithosphere.

because, the lithosphere is the outermost layer of the earth/ 100 km thick and is defined by its machanical properties.the lithosphere contains oceanic and continental crust that varies in age and thickness across locations and geologic time. the lithosphere is the coolest layer of the earth in terms of temperature. the term lithosphere should not be confused with the use of "geosphere" which is used to indicate all of earth systems, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere   and biosphere. the surface of the earth can be divided into the continental crust and the oceanic crust.   the continental crust is made mostly of granite while the oceanic crust is made of basalt. the average thickness of the continental crust is 25 miles and the average thickness of the oceanic crust is 5 miles.   three types of rock, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic, make up the surface of the earth. that's why 3 option is preferable.