Consider the following scenario:
You are a scientist observing rodents on the Galapagos Islands. You notice that the introduction of new bird of prey has limited the number of rodents.
What term best describes the factor that is limiting the number of rodents the environment can support?
• variation
• fitness
• selective pressure
• food supply
1 answer
The term that best describes the factor that is limiting the number of rodents the environment can support is "selective pressure". The introduction of new bird of prey has increased the selective pressure on the rodents, leading to a decrease in their population. Selective pressure refers to any environmental factor that affects the survival and reproductive success of an organism, resulting in natural selection and changes in the population over time.