Question

Paleoclimatic analysis has generated a claim that there is a possible correlation between an extinction event around 29 million years ago that allowed grasslands to become abundant and the adaptive radiation of several groups of butterflies.
Which of the following proposes the best alternative hypothesis for the claim?

A- Climate analysis conducted by sampling pollen preserved in amber shows an increase in grass pollen 29 million years ago, but there is no significant difference between speciation rate, as well as species richness with regard to butterflies, before and after 29 million years ago.

B- Climate analysis conducted by sampling pollen preserved in amber shows an increase in grass pollen 29 million years ago, which indicates there was an increase in grasslands that correlates to an increase in butterfly speciation during the same time period.

C- There is a correlation between the rapid and wide-ranging decrease in species richness of insects in general 29 million years ago and the increase in species richness and diversity among the butterfly population during the same time period.

D- Evidence of rapid speciation among butterfly species 29 million years ago is evenly distributed among all environments of that period.

Answer 1

I think the answer could be C