Question

Here describes four finch species that live in an isolated ecosystem:
• Large ground finch
• Beak: heavy and strong
• Diet: large seeds, cactus fruits, caterpillars, and large insects

• Cactus finch
• Beak: tough and sharp
• Diet: cactus fruits, cactus nectar, and flowers

• Vegetarian finch
• Beak: short and thick
• Diet: fruit, buds, leaves, and flowers

• Warbler finch
• Beak: narrow and pointy
• Diet: insects, spiders, and caterpillars

A disease is introduced into the ecosystem that kills all of the cactus plants. Which of the following best predicts the effects on the finches?

A. The vegetarian finches and warbler finches will be affected because they will lose some of their food sources, but they will survive because their diet includes a variety of foods. The large ground finches will not be affected because their food sources are not affected. The cactus finches will not survive because they will lose their only food sources.

B. The warbler finches will be affected because they will lose some of their food sources, but they will survive because their diet includes a variety of foods. The cactus finches will not be affected because their food sources are not affected. The vegetarian finches and the large ground finches will not survive because they will lose their only food sources.

C. The large ground finches and vegetarian finches will be affected because they will lose some of the their food sources, but they will survive because their diet includes a variety of foods. The warbler finches will not be affected because their food sources are not affected. The cactus finches will not survive because they will lose their only food sources.

D. The cactus finches will be affected because they will lose some of their food sources, but they will survive because their diet includes a variety of foods. The large ground finches and the vegetarian finches will not be affected because their food sources are not affected. The warbler finches will not survive because they will lose their only food sources.

Answer 1

The best prediction of the effects on the finches, given the scenario that a disease has killed all of the cactus plants, is:

**A. The vegetarian finches and warbler finches will be affected because they will lose some of their food sources, but they will survive because their diet includes a variety of foods. The large ground finches will not be affected because their food sources are not affected. The cactus finches will not survive because they will lose their only food sources.**

Here's the reasoning behind this choice:

1. **Cactus Finches:** Their diet relies exclusively on cactus fruits, nectar, and flowers. Since these plants are no longer available, cactus finches will not survive.

2. **Large Ground Finches:** Their diet primarily consists of large seeds, cactus fruits, caterpillars, and large insects. The loss of cactus fruits will have some effect, but they still have access to large seeds, caterpillars, and insects, allowing for their survival.

3. **Vegetarian Finches:** They eat fruit, buds, leaves, and flowers. While they may lose access to some fruits provided by cacti, they typically have a more varied diet compared to cactus finches, enhancing their chances of survival.

4. **Warbler Finches:** Their diet includes insects, spiders, and caterpillars. The loss of cactus plants does not directly affect their food sources, allowing them to likely survive.

Thus, option A correctly identifies that the cactus finches will not survive, while the other finch species will be affected to varying degrees but still have means to survive due to their more diverse diets.