Which finding about Charadriiformes and the 12 other orders identifie… | Verbal SAT Question

When a predator nears the nesting site of a pied oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris), the bird will lead the predator away from the nest by pretending to be injured and unable to fly. This behavior is called “broken-wing display” and was long thought to be used only in the order Charadriiformes (shorebirds). However, recent research has shown that species from Anseriformes (waterfowl), Cuculiformes (cuckoos), and 10 additional avian orders use the display—particularly those species that experience high levels of predation. Given that species with higher predation rates tend to have shorter incubation durations, some researchers have predicted that the defensive behavior is associated with relatively short incubation periods.

Which finding about Charadriiformes and the 12 other orders identified in the recent study, if true, would best support the researchers’ prediction?

Nearly 90% of species in the order Charadriiformes have been observed using broken-wing display to deter predators during an incubation period, while only 30% of species in the other 12 orders have been observed doing so.

Across those orders, broken-wing display has been observed in approximately 80% of species with incubation periods under 20 days and approximately 58% of species with incubation periods over 30 days.

The use of broken-wing display has been confirmed in 285 individual species from those orders, representing a range of incubation periods, from a minimum of 10 days to a maximum of 44 days.

The mean incubation period is 22 days for species from those orders, regardless of the species’ use of broken-wing display.