This picture shows different beak shapes of finches that all originated from a common finch ancestor. Beak shape determines food source. Which of the following statements best explains why many different finch species originated from the single ancestral species?

Question

beak

Random mutations occurred and caused individuals to have harmful traits

Recessive traits in populations were eliminated over time.

Different population adapted to different food sources

Individuals changed their beak size over their lifetime.

Answer 1

The statement that best explains why many different finch species originated from the single ancestral species is:

Different populations adapted to different food sources.

This reflects the process of natural selection, where variations in traits (such as beak shapes) allowed different populations of finches to exploit various food sources, leading to the diversification of species.