Question
Read the passage and answer the following question(s).
Natural Selection
Darwin’s finches, also known as Galapagos finches, are a type of bird known for their remarkable diversity in beak sizes (Figure 1). From 1973 to 1985, scientists Peter and Rosemary Grant collected data on the finches and their struggle for survival over a food supply that was affected by weather changes. The Grants wanted to determine if they could see natural selection at work based on which birds survived environmental changes.
In finches, the size and shape of the beak varies among species. Some finches have small, less powerful beaks used to easily pick up and eat small, soft seeds. Other finches have larger, stronger beaks used to crack open larger, hard seeds. During normal weather conditions, both types of seeds are plentiful. However, during times of drought (dry conditions), there are fewer small seeds.
Figure 1
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Figure 2 shows the percentages of birds with each beak size in 1976 and in 1978.
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Figure 1 shows how common different beak lengths are in a population of finches.
Figure 1
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If the birds are moved to a new habitat where there are only very small and very large seeds, which graph would show how natural selection might change the distribution of beak lengths in this population?
A.
image
B.
image
C.
image
D.
image
Natural Selection
Darwin’s finches, also known as Galapagos finches, are a type of bird known for their remarkable diversity in beak sizes (Figure 1). From 1973 to 1985, scientists Peter and Rosemary Grant collected data on the finches and their struggle for survival over a food supply that was affected by weather changes. The Grants wanted to determine if they could see natural selection at work based on which birds survived environmental changes.
In finches, the size and shape of the beak varies among species. Some finches have small, less powerful beaks used to easily pick up and eat small, soft seeds. Other finches have larger, stronger beaks used to crack open larger, hard seeds. During normal weather conditions, both types of seeds are plentiful. However, during times of drought (dry conditions), there are fewer small seeds.
Figure 1
image
Figure 2 shows the percentages of birds with each beak size in 1976 and in 1978.
image
Figure 1 shows how common different beak lengths are in a population of finches.
Figure 1
image
If the birds are moved to a new habitat where there are only very small and very large seeds, which graph would show how natural selection might change the distribution of beak lengths in this population?
A.
image
B.
image
C.
image
D.
image
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
To determine how natural selection might change the distribution of beak lengths in the population of finches when they are moved to a new habitat with only very small and very large seeds, we need to consider the implications of the available food sources on the beak sizes.
In the new habitat:
- Finches with small beaks would be capable of eating the very small seeds.
- Finches with large beaks would be able to eat the very large seeds.
- Finches with intermediate-sized beaks may struggle to find food, as their beak size is not specialized for the available seeds.
As a result, we would expect natural selection to favor the extremes (small and large beaks), leading to a potential shift in population distribution towards those beak sizes.
Without seeing the graphs (images) provided in your question, I can’t specify which option (A, B, C, or D) corresponds to this outcome. However, the correct graph would likely show an increase in the proportion of birds with very small and very large beaks and a decrease or disappearance of those with intermediate-sized beaks.
If you can describe the graphs or provide their key characteristics, I can help further identify the correct answer.
In the new habitat:
- Finches with small beaks would be capable of eating the very small seeds.
- Finches with large beaks would be able to eat the very large seeds.
- Finches with intermediate-sized beaks may struggle to find food, as their beak size is not specialized for the available seeds.
As a result, we would expect natural selection to favor the extremes (small and large beaks), leading to a potential shift in population distribution towards those beak sizes.
Without seeing the graphs (images) provided in your question, I can’t specify which option (A, B, C, or D) corresponds to this outcome. However, the correct graph would likely show an increase in the proportion of birds with very small and very large beaks and a decrease or disappearance of those with intermediate-sized beaks.
If you can describe the graphs or provide their key characteristics, I can help further identify the correct answer.
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