A drought hits the habitat of a semi aquatic bird population. All ponds dry, and fish population decline. There are two groups of birds in the population that differ in leg length and diet. Long leg birds, eat fish, while shortly bird, eat insects, the drought has little effect on the insect population. What is the main selective pressure in this scenario?
1 answer
The main selective pressure in this scenario is likely the availability of food. The drought has caused a decline in the fish population, which is the primary food source for the long-legged birds. This may put pressure on the long-legged birds to adapt and find alternative food sources, or potentially face a decline in their population. Meanwhile, the short-legged birds that eat insects may be less affected by the decline in fish population and may be better adapted to the changing conditions. Ultimately, the ability to find and access food will play a major role in determining which individuals are most likely to survive and pass on their genes to future generations.