When Charles Darwin discovered the various finch species on the Galápagos islands, he was surprised to find so many different but related species in such a small geographic area. Which of the following best illustrates the correlation between competitive advantage and an individual’s traits in a particular environment?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Mating behaviors in finch species ensure that different species of finch will not interbreed with one another.
Mating behaviors in finch species ensure that different species of finch will not interbreed with one another.

Different islands had very different food resources available, and only individuals that were adapted to eat those food resources survived and reproduced on that island.
Different islands had very different food resources available, and only individuals that were adapted to eat those food resources survived and reproduced on that island.

Finches had no natural predators on the island before Darwin’s voyage, allowing them to prosper on the islands.
Finches had no natural predators on the island before Darwin’s voyage, allowing them to prosper on the islands.

Competition between different species for food resources led to resource partitioning of the ecosystem.

Answer 1

The statement that best illustrates the correlation between competitive advantage and an individual’s traits in a particular environment is:

Different islands had very different food resources available, and only individuals that were adapted to eat those food resources survived and reproduced on that island.

This statement directly connects the traits of the individuals (their adaptations related to feeding) to the competitive advantage they had in differing environments (the various food resources available on the islands). It highlights natural selection and how specific traits can lead to survival and reproduction based on environmental conditions.