Ocean-dwelling (marine) iguanas and land iguanas inhabit the galapagos islands. some
scientists believe that both types of iguanas diverged from a common ancestor. marine
iguanas eat algae. land iguanas feed on cacti. algae are more abundant in the ocean than
cacti are on the islands. both species lay their eggs in the sand.
rats, cats, and goats have been introduced to the islands by humans. rats feed on
iguana eggs, cats eat baby iguanas, and goats eat cacti.

which population of iguanas, marine or land, would you expect to be larger? support your answer.
population of iguana:

I would expect that the marine population of iguanas would be larger than the population of the land iguanas. The above text states that both the land and marine iguanas lay their eggs in the sand and that the rats living on the Galapagos Islands eat the eggs buried in the sand. It also states that the food sources are more abundant in the ocean than on the land. So, if we assume that an equal number of land and marine iguana eggs hatch and an equal number make it to their respective food sources, the marine iguana has a greater chance of surviving as its food source is more abundant.

Hunting in the darksome fish rely on senses beyond sight. in the darkness of the marianas trench, a fish called the rattail has an extremely sensitive sense of smell. the fish uses scent, rather than sight, to steer toward food. once it's near food, the rattail uses a special organ on the bottom of its chin to guide itself by feel.marine snowone staple of the deep sea diet is "marine snow," flakes of organic, edible substances that sink down from the upper ocean. animals at the ocean's bottom find sustenance in everything from the bodies of dead creatures to fecal matter. marine snow is diverse enough to support numerous species. for instance, several species of snails and worms feed exclusively on deceased whales.microorganismsthe deep sea is an intricate ecosystem, and even the ocean floor itself plays a part. hydrothermal vents are cracks in the sea floor where erupting magma mixes with ocean water to produce plumes of hot, sulfur-rich chemicals. some microbes can use these chemicals for energy, sustaining their existence and that of the animals who depend on their roles in the deep sea food chain.