Question

Consider the following scenario:

In an aquatic bird population, some birds have long legs. Other birds have short legs. The food supply is minimal. The birds with long legs are able to wade farther into the water where they can find fish. Over time, the birds with long legs become more common.

What scientific term best describes this scenario?

(1 point)
Responses

fitness
fitness

mutation
mutation

selective pressures
selective pressures

natural selection

Answer 1

Natural selection.

The long-legged birds have a survival/reproductive advantage in the environment (can access food), so alleles for long legs increase in frequency over time — a classic case of natural selection.