|Question 12Verbal

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Some food packaging contains silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), which can leach into waterways and soils via wastewater. In a 2015 study, Tina Ramskov and colleagues found that Ag-NPs can accumulate in the bodies of marine annelid worms (Capitella teleta). While bioaccumulation of manufactured nanoparticles may be inherently worrisome, it has been hypothesized that Ag-NP bioaccumulation in invertebrates like C. teleta could serve a valuable proxy role, obviating the need for manufacturers to conduct costly and intrusive sampling of vertebrate species such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), commonly used in regulatory compliance testing for nanoparticle bioaccumulation, as environmental protection laws currently require.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support the hypothesis presented in the text?
When C. teleta and S. salar are exposed to similar levels of Ag-NPs, individuals of the two species tend to accumulate similar amounts of Ag-NPs, adjusted for body size.
A
Ag-NP concentrations in C. teleta correlate strongly with Ag-NP levels in the environment, whereas Ag-NP concentrations in S. salar are fairly stable regardless of environment.
B
Compared with S. salar, C. teleta can tolerate significantly higher Ag-NP concentrations without displaying any negative effects.
C
It is easier to detect low and harmless concentrations of Ag-NPs in C. teleta than it is to detect high and harmful concentrations of Ag-NPs in S. salar.
D