Natural Selection Unit Test Unit 5 Lesson 12

Question

Notice the population of beetles. The allele for color is seen on their backs: green (g) and brown (G) alleles. Green beetles are homozygous, gg. Brown beetles are heterozygous Gg in this population sample. The beetles' habitat is an old growth forest, where they burrow into the trees' bark for food and shelter. The coloration of the beetles help them to hide from predators, such as birds.
Imagine this scenario. During the spring and summer the old growth forest has been plagued with wildfires. The ground litter as well as the leaves on the trees have been burned. Only very young trees are destroyed in the fire though; the old growth trees still stand. How would this impact the beetle population, if at all?

(1 point)
Responses

Since the leaf litter and small trees burned, we would expect a decline in the brown beetle population.
Since the leaf litter and small trees burned, we would expect a decline in the brown beetle population.

The wildfires destroyed all food sources for the beetles; we would expect to see a decline in both green and brown beetles.
The wildfires destroyed all food sources for the beetles; we would expect to see a decline in both green and brown beetles.

Due to the wildfires, the entire beetle population would decline because they would not longer be camouflaged from predators.
Due to the wildfires, the entire beetle population would decline because they would not longer be camouflaged from predators.

The leaves will be destroyed and the green beetle population would decline because they would no longer be camouflaged from predators.
The leaves will be destroyed and the green beetle population would decline because they would no longer be camouflaged from predators.

Answer 1

Since the old growth trees are still standing and providing food and shelter for the beetles, the impact on the beetle population would be minimal. The beetles would still be able to burrow into the bark of the trees and remain camouflaged from predators. Therefore, there may not be a significant decline in the beetle population in this scenario.