Question
Which population is most likely experiencing disruptive natural selection?
Responses
Pumas with medium brown fur are more successful than light or dark pumas.
Pumas with medium brown fur are more successful than light or dark pumas.
Predators can easily see very light or very dark lizards in a population.
Predators can easily see very light or very dark lizards in a population.
Medium-colored peppered moths are more likely to be eaten by birds.
Medium-colored peppered moths are more likely to be eaten by birds.
Red butterflies are more likely to survive than blue butterflies.
Responses
Pumas with medium brown fur are more successful than light or dark pumas.
Pumas with medium brown fur are more successful than light or dark pumas.
Predators can easily see very light or very dark lizards in a population.
Predators can easily see very light or very dark lizards in a population.
Medium-colored peppered moths are more likely to be eaten by birds.
Medium-colored peppered moths are more likely to be eaten by birds.
Red butterflies are more likely to survive than blue butterflies.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Disruptive natural selection occurs when individuals at both extremes of a trait distribution have a higher fitness than those with intermediate traits. Based on the options provided:
1. **Pumas with medium brown fur are more successful than light or dark pumas.** - This suggests that medium brown pumas are favored, which points to stabilizing selection rather than disruptive selection.
2. **Predators can easily see very light or very dark lizards in a population.** - This implies that lizards with extreme coloration (either very light or very dark) may be favored over those with an intermediate color, indicating potential for disruptive selection.
3. **Medium-colored peppered moths are more likely to be eaten by birds.** - This suggests that medium-colored moths are less fit, which could lead to an increase in fitness for extreme coloration (dark or light), aligning with disruptive selection.
4. **Red butterflies are more likely to survive than blue butterflies.** - This indicates favorability for one color trait over another, which may suggest directional selection rather than disruptive selection.
Considering the definitions of selection types, the responses indicating **"Predators can easily see very light or very dark lizards in a population."** and **"Medium-colored peppered moths are more likely to be eaten by birds."** are indicative of disruptive selection, as these suggest that both extremes (light or dark) may be favored over the intermediate traits.
Thus, the most likely to experience disruptive natural selection would be the population described in the second option about lizards, as it explicitly describes selective pressure favoring extremes and rejecting intermediates directly.
1. **Pumas with medium brown fur are more successful than light or dark pumas.** - This suggests that medium brown pumas are favored, which points to stabilizing selection rather than disruptive selection.
2. **Predators can easily see very light or very dark lizards in a population.** - This implies that lizards with extreme coloration (either very light or very dark) may be favored over those with an intermediate color, indicating potential for disruptive selection.
3. **Medium-colored peppered moths are more likely to be eaten by birds.** - This suggests that medium-colored moths are less fit, which could lead to an increase in fitness for extreme coloration (dark or light), aligning with disruptive selection.
4. **Red butterflies are more likely to survive than blue butterflies.** - This indicates favorability for one color trait over another, which may suggest directional selection rather than disruptive selection.
Considering the definitions of selection types, the responses indicating **"Predators can easily see very light or very dark lizards in a population."** and **"Medium-colored peppered moths are more likely to be eaten by birds."** are indicative of disruptive selection, as these suggest that both extremes (light or dark) may be favored over the intermediate traits.
Thus, the most likely to experience disruptive natural selection would be the population described in the second option about lizards, as it explicitly describes selective pressure favoring extremes and rejecting intermediates directly.
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