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Below are different types of selection pressures. For each selection pressure, select which outcome would most likely occur over time.(3 points) Increased Competition Changes in Habitat Introduction of a New Predator A population of birds where food sources become scarce due to overpopulation. A non-native species is introduced to an area where it does not belong. Over time, it starts preying on small mammals. A wildfire tears through a wooded area, reducing the plant life to ashes A new city is developed including roads, and infrastructure that alter the natural area. Changes in temperature, precipitation, or extreme weather events alter the availability of resources Pollution can reduce the availability of clean water, air, or food, resulting in fewer remaining untainted resources.

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Here's the analysis of the different types of selection pressures and the most likely outcomes over time:

  1. Increased Competition:

    • Scenario: A population of birds where food sources become scarce due to overpopulation.
    • Outcome: Over time, the birds that are better adapted to compete for limited food resources will be favored, leading to natural selection for traits that enhance competitive abilities, potentially resulting in a decline in the overall bird population due to starvation or increased mortality.

  2. Introduction of a New Predator:

    • Scenario: A non-native species is introduced to an area where it does not belong. Over time, it starts preying on small mammals.
    • Outcome: The small mammals may experience a decline in population size as they face increased predation pressure. Those individuals that have traits allowing them to evade the new predator may survive and reproduce, potentially leading to evolutionary changes in the small mammal population over time (e.g., increased vigilance or better camouflage).

  3. Changes in Habitat:

    • Scenario: A wildfire tears through a wooded area, reducing the plant life to ashes.
    • Outcome: The species that can quickly recover or adapt to the new environment will likely thrive. Over time, the ecosystem may shift to a different community of plants and animals that are better suited to the post-wildfire habitat.

  4. Changes in Climate:

    • Scenario: Changes in temperature, precipitation, or extreme weather events alter the availability of resources.
    • Outcome: Organisms that are able to tolerate or adapt to the new climatic conditions will have a survival advantage, while those that cannot will face declines, potentially leading to shifts in species distributions and community compositions over time.

  5. Pollution:

    • Scenario: Pollution can reduce the availability of clean water, air, or food, resulting in fewer remaining untainted resources.
    • Outcome: Species that can tolerate polluted environments or that have adaptations to manage toxins may thrive, while more sensitive species could decline or face extinction. Over time, there may be a shift in the species present in an area toward those that can endure poorer conditions.

  6. Urban Development:

    • Scenario: A new city is developed, including roads and infrastructure that alter the natural area.
    • Outcome: As habitat is fragmented and altered, many species may be unable to adapt and could decline or move away, leading to a reduction in biodiversity. Meanwhile, certain adaptable species (often generalists) may thrive in urban settings, leading to shifts in community structure.

Each of these scenarios represents a different type of selection pressure that can lead to notable ecological and evolutionary changes over time.