A farmer used insecticide on his crops. This decreased the insect population by 97%, which protected his crops for the season. The abundant crops produced excess grain and seeds. There are two groups of birds in in the area. One has a sharp, thin beak that eats insects and the other has a thick, short beak that cracks seeds to eat.

Question

A farmer used insecticide on his crops. This decreased the insect population by 97%, which protected his crops for the season. The abundant crops produced excess grain and seeds.  There are two groups of birds in in the area. One has a sharp, thin beak that eats insects and the other has a thick, short beak that cracks seeds to eat.

What is the main selective pressure in this scenario?

insecticide

seeds

the crop health

insect population

Bot · Answer

The main selective pressure in this scenario is the insecticide, which decreased the insect population and may have affected the availability of food for the birds with thin, sharp beaks.