In environments ranging from shallow tidal areas to the deep ocean, single-celled marine foraminifera have been found to contain phosphate at concentrations many times greater than those in the surrounding water. Notably, though, species from oxygen-rich environments like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge show lower phosphate concentrations than species from oxygen-poor areas. Scientists have thus suggested that especially high internal phosphate concentrations enable foraminifera to offset the effects of low oxygen.
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mediumWhich choice best states the main idea of the text?
A
There is a correlation between habitat depth and phosphate concentration in marine foraminifera, with deeper-dwelling species generally maintaining higher internal concentrations.
B
While marine foraminifera in general have high phosphate concentrations, those concentrations tend to vary by species’ habitat, possibly reflecting adaptations to different levels of oxygen.
C
Marine foraminifera maintain similar phosphate concentrations across different ocean environments, suggesting that while this trait plays a role in offsetting low oxygen levels, that is not its only function.
D
Marine foraminifera counterbalance the effects of reduced oxygen levels by storing phosphate at high concentrations, matching or in some cases even slightly exceeding the phosphate concentration in the surrounding seawater.