Bird Species Monitoring Across Nature Reserves, 2023Reserve LocationArea (hectares)Documented SpeciesSpecies per HectareLakefront Preserve8501270.149M...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Bird Species Monitoring Across Nature Reserves, 2023
| Reserve Location | Area (hectares) | Documented Species | Species per Hectare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakefront Preserve | 850 | 127 | 0.149 |
| Mountain Sanctuary | 1,200 | 96 | 0.080 |
| Coastal Wetlands | 640 | 203 | 0.317 |
| Prairie Grasslands | 950 | 114 | 0.120 |
Conservation monitoring reveals that reserve size and total biodiversity don't always correlate as expected, with some larger reserves supporting fewer species than smaller ones: ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
Prairie Grasslands encompasses \(\mathrm{950}\) hectares while documenting \(\mathrm{114}\) different species.
Coastal Wetlands achieves \(\mathrm{0.317}\) species per hectare while Mountain Sanctuary maintains only \(\mathrm{0.080}\) species per hectare.
Lakefront Preserve covers \(\mathrm{850}\) hectares, making it the smallest reserve by total area.
Mountain Sanctuary spans the largest area at \(\mathrm{1,200}\) hectares but supports fewer total species than Coastal Wetlands.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Bird Species Monitoring Across Nature Reserves, 2023" | What it says: Title - bird monitoring data 2023 What it does: Introduces the study topic and timeframe What it is: Context/header |
| Table showing: Lakefront Preserve (850 hectares, 127 species, 0.149 species/hectare) | What it says: LP: 850ha, 127 species, 0.149/ha What it does: Presents data for first reserve What it is: Evidence/data |
| Mountain Sanctuary (1,200 hectares, 96 species, 0.080 species/hectare) | What it says: MS: 1,200ha (largest), 96 species, 0.080/ha What it does: Provides data for second reserve What it is: Evidence/data |
| Coastal Wetlands (640 hectares, 203 species, 0.317 species/hectare) | What it says: CW: 640ha (smallest), 203 species (most), 0.317/ha What it does: Shows data for third reserve What it is: Evidence/data |
| Prairie Grasslands (950 hectares, 114 species, 0.120 species/hectare) | What it says: PG: 950ha, 114 species, 0.120/ha What it does: Completes the dataset with fourth reserve What it is: Evidence/data |
| "Conservation monitoring reveals that reserve size and total biodiversity don't always correlate as expected, with some larger reserves supporting fewer species than smaller ones:" | What it says: Size does not equal biodiversity; large reserves can have fewer species than small ones What it does: States main finding that challenges expectations What it is: Main claim |
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Conservation data shows that larger nature reserves do not necessarily support more species than smaller ones.
Argument Flow: The passage presents comparative data from four nature reserves, then concludes with the key finding that reserve size and biodiversity do not correlate as might be expected. The data supports this counterintuitive relationship by showing examples where smaller reserves actually support more total species than larger ones.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to complete the statement about how larger reserves can support fewer species than smaller ones.
What type of answer do we need? A specific example from the data that illustrates this counterintuitive relationship.
Any limiting keywords? "Most effectively uses data from the table" - the answer must directly reference the numerical data provided.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our table analysis, we need an answer that shows a larger reserve having fewer total species than a smaller reserve
- From the data: Mountain Sanctuary is the largest (1,200 hectares) but has only 96 species
- Coastal Wetlands is the smallest (640 hectares) but has the most species (203 species)
- The right answer should directly compare these two reserves to show how the larger one (Mountain Sanctuary) supports fewer total species than the smaller one (Coastal Wetlands)
- This would perfectly illustrate the passage's main point about the unexpected relationship between size and biodiversity
Prairie Grasslands encompasses \(\mathrm{950}\) hectares while documenting \(\mathrm{114}\) different species.
✗ Incorrect
- States facts about Prairie Grasslands but does not show the size-biodiversity contrast
- Provides data but does not illustrate larger reserves having fewer species than smaller ones
- Missing the comparative element needed to complete the statement
Coastal Wetlands achieves \(\mathrm{0.317}\) species per hectare while Mountain Sanctuary maintains only \(\mathrm{0.080}\) species per hectare.
✗ Incorrect
- Compares species density (per hectare) rather than total species counts
- Focuses on efficiency rather than the total biodiversity relationship mentioned in the passage
- Does not directly support the claim about larger reserves having fewer total species
Lakefront Preserve covers \(\mathrm{850}\) hectares, making it the smallest reserve by total area.
✗ Incorrect
- Factually wrong - Coastal Wetlands (640 hectares) is the smallest, not Lakefront Preserve (850 hectares)
- Does not provide any comparative information about species counts
- Fails to illustrate the main point about size vs. biodiversity
Mountain Sanctuary spans the largest area at \(\mathrm{1,200}\) hectares but supports fewer total species than Coastal Wetlands.
✓ Correct
- Directly compares Mountain Sanctuary (largest at 1,200 hectares, 96 species) with Coastal Wetlands (640 hectares, 203 species)
- Shows exactly what the passage describes: a larger reserve supporting fewer total species than a smaller one
- Uses specific data from the table to perfectly illustrate the counterintuitive relationship