Question
6. If their environment changes to have warm water, which of the following seal populations will most likely survive?
Responses
a
Populations 1 and 2 will most likely survive.
Populations 1 and 2 will most likely survive.
b
Populations 2 and 3 will most likely survive.
Populations 2 and 3 will most likely survive.
c
Only Population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation.
Only Population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation.
d
All the populations will survive because the seals will change the thickness of their blubber if they need to.
All the populations will survive because the seals will change the thickness of their blubber if they need to.
Responses
a
Populations 1 and 2 will most likely survive.
Populations 1 and 2 will most likely survive.
b
Populations 2 and 3 will most likely survive.
Populations 2 and 3 will most likely survive.
c
Only Population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation.
Only Population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation.
d
All the populations will survive because the seals will change the thickness of their blubber if they need to.
All the populations will survive because the seals will change the thickness of their blubber if they need to.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To determine which seal populations are most likely to survive in an environment with warm water, we need to consider their adaptability and the presence of variation within their populations.
- **Option a** (Populations 1 and 2 will most likely survive) suggests that both populations 1 and 2 have traits that will help them adapt to a warmer environment. Without specific information about these populations, it's hard to evaluate this option.
- **Option b** (Populations 2 and 3 will most likely survive) indicates that these populations might have traits that better suit them for warm water conditions.
- **Option c** (Only Population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation) highlights the importance of genetic variation in adapting to environmental changes. Genetic variation is crucial for survival during changes in the environment, as it provides the raw material for natural selection.
- **Option d** (All the populations will survive because the seals will change the thickness of their blubber if they need to) assumes that all seals can adjust their physiology quickly in response to environmental changes, which may not be accurate. While some level of physiological adjustment is possible, it is often limited and may not be sufficient for survival in the face of rapid or extreme environmental changes.
Given these considerations, **Option c** seems to be the most plausible answer, as genetic variation increases the likelihood of a population's survival in a changing environment.
- **Option a** (Populations 1 and 2 will most likely survive) suggests that both populations 1 and 2 have traits that will help them adapt to a warmer environment. Without specific information about these populations, it's hard to evaluate this option.
- **Option b** (Populations 2 and 3 will most likely survive) indicates that these populations might have traits that better suit them for warm water conditions.
- **Option c** (Only Population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation) highlights the importance of genetic variation in adapting to environmental changes. Genetic variation is crucial for survival during changes in the environment, as it provides the raw material for natural selection.
- **Option d** (All the populations will survive because the seals will change the thickness of their blubber if they need to) assumes that all seals can adjust their physiology quickly in response to environmental changes, which may not be accurate. While some level of physiological adjustment is possible, it is often limited and may not be sufficient for survival in the face of rapid or extreme environmental changes.
Given these considerations, **Option c** seems to be the most plausible answer, as genetic variation increases the likelihood of a population's survival in a changing environment.