Question

Mathematics of Natural Selection Quick Check 3 of 53 of 5 Items Question Over generations, female reindeer in a Finnish population give birth to larger offspring. Which type of selection is occurring, and how would a distribution curve for this trait change over time?(1 point) Responses stabilizing selection; the curve would become taller in the middle stabilizing selection; the curve would become taller in the middle directional selection; the curve would shift to the right directional selection; the curve would shift to the right stabilizing selection; the curve would become shorter in the middle stabilizing selection; the curve would become shorter in the middle directional selection; the curve would shift to the left

Answer 1

In the scenario described, where female reindeer are giving birth to larger offspring over generations, the type of selection occurring is directional selection. This is because the population is favoring a trait (larger offspring) that pushes the average size to the right on the distribution curve.

As a result, the distribution curve for this trait would shift to the right over time, indicating that the average size of the offspring is increasing.

So the correct response is:

directional selection; the curve would shift to the right.