Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which principle of natural selection is best illustrated when a frog produces more offspring than can survive on available resources?
A
Stabilizing selection
B
Inheritance of acquired characteristics
C
Overproduction of offspring
D
Genetic drift
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of natural selection: Natural selection is a process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This process is driven by several principles, including overproduction of offspring, variation, competition, and differential survival and reproduction.
Identify the principle in question: The problem asks about the principle of natural selection that is illustrated when a frog produces more offspring than can survive on available resources. This is a key aspect of the principle known as 'overproduction of offspring.'
Explain overproduction of offspring: Overproduction of offspring refers to the tendency of organisms to produce more offspring than the environment can support. This leads to competition for limited resources, such as food, space, and mates, which is a driving force in natural selection.
Eliminate incorrect options: Stabilizing selection refers to a type of natural selection that favors intermediate traits, not overproduction. Inheritance of acquired characteristics is an outdated concept proposed by Lamarck, which is not part of modern evolutionary theory. Genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population, unrelated to overproduction.
Conclude with the correct principle: The principle that best explains the scenario where a frog produces more offspring than can survive is 'overproduction of offspring,' as it directly relates to the competition for resources and the survival of the fittest.