An ecology magazine regularly publishes articles on tree diseases. This year, the number of articles on Ophiostoma ulmi, the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease, is significantly smaller than the number of such articles that appeared last year. Clearly, fewer researchers studied Ophiostoma ulmi this year than did so last year.
Which of the following, if true, weakens the above conclusion?
A. Many researchers publishing articles are currently studying Stegophora ulmeay a fungus that causes elm leaf spot.
B. Since its introduction, Dutch elm disease has killed half of the elm trees in North America.
C. Research on Dutch elm disease that focuses on prevention receives more funding than research that focuses on finding a cure.
D. A new strain of the fungus Rhytisma acerinum infested maple trees at an unprecedented rate this year.
E. All articles go through at least a one-year review process before publication.
The OA will be automatically revealed on Monday 14th of September 2026 07:00:06 PM Pacific Time Zone