Human activities can drive changes in ecosystems that affect the risk of extinction. An experiment is designed to help prevent the further decline and extinction of the Henslow's sparrow in which controlled burns will be set in the each of the ten Midwest counties in order to prevent the regrowth of the forest. Which of the following represents an alternate hypothesis tested by this experiment with regard to the population sizes of Henslow's sparrows?
Select one:
a. There will be no difference in the populations observed in the controlled fire sites and the rest of counties 5 and 6.
b. Controlled fires in counties 6 and 8 will have no effect on the sparrow populations.
c. Controlled fires in counties 4 and 5 will lead to an increase in the sparrow
population.
d. Population numbers will continue to decline even in the controlled fire sites because human activities always lead to extinction.