Genetic Variation Over Time Quick Check

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Question
How would reducing low-growing plants from an area impact a population of tortoises with two varieties of neck extension ability: short and long distance?(1 point)
Responses

The proportion of tortoises with the ability to extend their necks a long distance would increase.
The proportion of tortoises with the ability to extend their necks a long distance would increase.

The proportion of tortoises that could only extend their necks a short distance would increase.
The proportion of tortoises that could only extend their necks a short distance would increase.

The variety of tortoises with the ability to extend their necks a long distance would go extinct.
The variety of tortoises with the ability to extend their necks a long distance would go extinct.

The variety of tortoises that could only extend their necks a short distance would go extinct.

Answer 1

To determine how reducing low-growing plants would impact a population of tortoises with both short and long neck extension abilities, we need to consider the feeding habits and advantages of each variety.

Low-growing plants are typically more accessible to tortoises with short necks. If the low-growing plants are reduced, the short-necked tortoises would likely struggle to find enough food, while the long-necked tortoises would still be able to reach higher vegetation.

Based on this reasoning, the most likely outcome would be that:

The proportion of tortoises with the ability to extend their necks a long distance would increase.

This is because the long-necked tortoises would have a selective advantage when low-growing plants are scarce. The short-necked tortoises may have difficulty surviving and reproducing, leading to a decrease in their population over time.