Scientists have long believed that the 14 species of finches on the Galapagos Islands evolved from a single species of finch that migrated to the islands one to five million years ago. Recent research suggests that the original finches came from the Caribbean Islands. Different species live on different islands. For example, the medium ground finch and the cactus finch live on one island. The large cactus finch occupies another island. Among the major differences in finch species are their beak sizes and shapes. Evolutionary changes occur by many processes, one of which is natural selection. Choose the answer that best reflects how an evolutionary biologist would answer the following question with natural selection in mind. What is the best way to characterize the evolutionary changes that occur in a finch population over time? A) The traits of each individual finch in a population change over time. B) The proportions of finches with different traits in a population change over time. C) Mutations occur to meet the changing needs of the finches. D) The environment causes specific mutations in individual finches to help them survive and reproduce.
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Natural selection is a process in evolutionary biology where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common in the population. Show more…
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Scientists have long believed that the 56 species of honeycreeper birds native to the Hawaiian Islands evolved from a single species of the closely related rose finch that migrated to the islands five to seven million years ago. Recent research suggests that the original rose finches came from Asia. Different species live on different islands. For example, the Maui parrotbill and the Maui 'alauahio live on the island of Maui. The Hawaii 'akepa occupies another island. Among the major differences in honeycreeper species are their beak sizes and shapes. Evolutionary changes occur by many processes, one of which is natural selection. Choose the answer that best reflects how an evolutionary biologist would answer the following question with natural selection in mind: What is the best way to characterize the evolutionary changes that occur in a honeycreeper population over time? A) The traits of each individual honeycreeper in a population change over time. B) The proportions of honeycreepers with different traits in a population change over time. C) Mutations occur to meet the changing needs of the honeycreepers. D) The environment causes specific mutations in individual honeycreepers to help them survive and reproduce.
Sri K.
When evolution occurred on the Galápagos Islands, the finch beaks Select one: a. varied in size across the population and sometimes conferred benefits in feeding, survivorship, and reproduction that were passed down to surviving offspring. b. of individual birds in the population changed size and shape between the time of fledging the nest and adulthood due to the environmental stress induced by drought. c. had corresponding genetic codes in the DNA that were modified or mutated by individuals when attempting to survive the stressful environment of the drought. d. changed in size and depth only during the lifetime of the fittest birds able to survive the drought.
Sukhada S.
There are years of drought in a small, relatively isolated community. During the drought, small seeds with thin shells become rare. Large seeds with hard cases become increasingly common. The large, tough seeds are successfully eaten by birds with large and broad beaks. Assuming that the drought continues and the population of birds in the community stays isolated, what predictions for the population can you make under the influence of natural selection? a. The birds with small, thin beaks will grow larger, broader beaks to be able to eat the larger seeds. This will result in subsequent generations having a higher percentage of birds with large, broad beaks. b. There will be more birds with small, thin beaks dying and more birds with large, broad beaks surviving. Differential reproduction of birds with large, broad beaks will result in subsequent generations having a higher percentage of birds with large, broad beaks. c. The species will diverge into two species, one with small, thin beaks and one with large, broad beaks. The two species will then compete for resources. d. There will be neither phenotypic nor genotypic changes in the population.
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