Biology (11th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 1259188132
ISBN 13: 978-1-25918-813-8

Chapter 54 - Behavioral Biology - Figure 54.24 - Inquiry Question - Page 1150: 1

Answer

The difference might be due to the energy yield being non-linearly related to length. A longer mussel might also have a wider shape, giving a more-than-linear increase in energy when eaten.

Work Step by Step

Think about prey geometry--mussels (look at pictures on the internet) have a rounded shape, so increased length might give a more-than-linear increase in mass of mussel flesh.
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