Consider the following scenario:

A significant decline in fish populations occurs in the habitat of a semi-aquatic bird population. There are two groups of birds in the population that differ in leg length and diet. Long-legged birds eat fish, while short-legged birds eat insects. The insect population remains stable.

What is the main selective pressure in this scenario?

(1 point)
Responses

insect population
insect population

fish population
fish population

bird population
bird population

leg length

1 answer

The main selective pressure in this scenario is the fish population. The significant decline in fish populations affects the long-legged birds that rely on fish as their primary food source, leading to potential competition for limited resources and survival challenges for those birds. In contrast, the short-legged birds that eat insects are not directly affected by the decline in the fish population.