Question ID:PT8 S4 Q2 Passage:When old-growth forests are cleared of tall trees, more sunlight reaches the forest floor. This results in a sharp increase in the population of leafy shrubs on which the mule deer depend for food. Yet mule deer herds that inhabit cleared forests are less well-nourished than are herds living in old-growth forests. Stem:Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent paradox? Correct Answer Choice:DChoice A:Mule deer have enzyme-rich saliva and specialized digestive organs that enable the deer to digest tough plants inedible to other deer species. Choice B:Mule deer herds that inhabit cleared forests tend to have more females with young offspring and fewer adult males than do other mule deer populations. Choice C:Mule deer populations are spread throughout western North America and inhabit hot, sunny climates as well as cool, wet climates. Choice D:As plants receive more sunlight, they produce higher amounts of tannins, compounds that inhibit digestion of the plants’ proteins. Choice E:Insect parasites, such as certain species of ticks, that feed primarily on mule deer often dwell in trees, from which they drop onto passing deer.