Four species of finch arrive on a newly formed Galapagos island which is covered with cacti growing in loose, dry sand. The cacti have honey-filled flowers and tiny seeds. The theory of evolution by natural selection would probably predict that ____________________ would most succesfully survive, because _________________________.

Question

Four species of finch arrive on a newly formed Galapagos island which is covered with cacti growing in loose, dry sand. The cacti have honey-filled flowers and tiny seeds. The theory of evolution by natural selection would probably predict that ____________________ would most succesfully survive, because _________________________.
Responses
A	Geospiza magnirostris; its large size makes it the fittest.Geospiza magnirostris; its large size makes it the fittest.
B	Geospiza fortis; it will probably be able to dig up worms with its bill.Geospiza fortis; it will probably be able to dig up worms with its bill.
C	Certhidia oliveacea; its tiny pointed bill is the best adapted to sip nectar.Certhidia oliveacea; its tiny pointed bill is the best adapted to sip nectar.
D	Geospiza parvula; animals with intermediate traits tend to have higher survival rates in new places.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The best response based on the scenario provided would be:

C Certhidia oliveacea; its tiny pointed bill is the best adapted to sip nectar.

Explanation: In this scenario, the newly formed island is covered with cacti that have honey-filled flowers. A finch species with a tiny pointed bill would likely be most successful in accessing the nectar from the flowers, which would provide them with a crucial food source. The other options either focus on traits that are less relevant to the environment (e.g., large size or bill adaptations for digging worms) or general statements about intermediate traits that may not be as directly advantageous in this specific context.