|Question 7Verbal

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When a landscape with native megafaunal (large-bodied) mammalian herbivores experiences a substantial decline in those populations, it loses a functional component of plant ecology. Introducing non-native proxy species has been beneficial in some such cases, but the reasonable concern persists that ecosystems may be negatively affected by species that didn't coevolve with local vegetation. Scholarly analysis of findings from 221 studies revealed no evidence that nativeness mediates the ecological effects of megafauna, however, determining instead that other traits, such as diet selectivity, are more germane.
Which choice best states the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
It outlines the reasoning behind the claim about a benefit that is presented in the previous sentence.
A
It presents an insight suggesting that a concern acknowledged as sensible earlier in the text is unsubstantiated.
B
It explains why data do not show the expected pattern described at the beginning of the text.
C
It identifies an inconclusive finding that motivated a shift in the focus of an analysis discussed in the text.
D