Question
Natural selection is the process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change. In which of the following scenarios will natural selection most likely occur?
Very little genetic variation is present in a species.
A geographical area has limited food to support the individuals living there.
No reproductive barriers are present in the area where a species is located.
Ideal environmental conditions result in less competition between individuals.
Very little genetic variation is present in a species.
A geographical area has limited food to support the individuals living there.
No reproductive barriers are present in the area where a species is located.
Ideal environmental conditions result in less competition between individuals.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Natural selection is most likely to occur in the scenario where **"A geographical area has limited food to support the individuals living there."**
In this scenario, the limited food supply creates competition among individuals for resources. This competition can lead to natural selection as individuals with traits that allow them to better acquire and utilize the limited resources may survive and reproduce more successfully than those with less advantageous traits.
In contrast, the other scenarios either imply a lack of environmental pressures or reduced competition, which can diminish the driving forces of natural selection.
In this scenario, the limited food supply creates competition among individuals for resources. This competition can lead to natural selection as individuals with traits that allow them to better acquire and utilize the limited resources may survive and reproduce more successfully than those with less advantageous traits.
In contrast, the other scenarios either imply a lack of environmental pressures or reduced competition, which can diminish the driving forces of natural selection.