Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
The image depicts a population of beetles where individuals with green coloration are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with brown coloration due to predation. What mechanism of evolution is illustrated in this scenario?
A
Mutation
B
Gene flow
C
Genetic drift
D
Natural selection
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the concept of natural selection. Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution where individuals with traits that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to pass those traits to the next generation.
Step 2: Analyze the scenario provided. The green beetles are more likely to survive and reproduce because their coloration makes them less susceptible to predation compared to the brown beetles.
Step 3: Recognize that this differential survival and reproduction based on coloration is an example of natural selection. The advantageous trait (green coloration) increases in frequency in the population over time.
Step 4: Compare natural selection to other mechanisms of evolution mentioned in the problem (mutation, gene flow, genetic drift). Mutation refers to changes in DNA, gene flow involves movement of genes between populations, and genetic drift is random changes in allele frequencies. None of these mechanisms directly explain the scenario as effectively as natural selection.
Step 5: Conclude that the mechanism illustrated in this scenario is natural selection, as it directly involves the survival and reproduction advantage of individuals with green coloration.