A drought hits the habitat of semi aquatic bird population. All ponds dry up, and fish populations decline. 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 drought has little effect on insect populations.
What is the main selective pressure in this scenario?
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The main selective pressure in this scenario is the availability of food. As the drought causes ponds to dry up and fish populations to decline, long-legged birds that depend on fish for their diet may struggle to survive and reproduce. Short-legged birds that feed on insects, which are less affected by the drought, may have a better chance of survival and passing on their genes. Therefore, the selective pressure in this scenario favors short-legged birds and their insect-based diet.
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