Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following situations will lead to natural selection?
A
A population of insects is exposed to a pesticide, and all individuals are equally affected.
B
A population of birds develops a mutation that allows them to digest a new type of seed, increasing their survival rate.
C
A population of mammals migrates to a new area where food is abundant, and all individuals thrive equally.
D
A population of fish experiences a sudden drop in water temperature, but all individuals survive equally well.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of natural selection: Natural selection is a process where individuals with certain heritable traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than others because of those traits.
Identify the key factor for natural selection: Variation in traits among individuals in a population is crucial for natural selection to occur. Without variation, all individuals are equally affected by environmental changes, and no selection can take place.
Analyze each situation: Look for scenarios where there is variation in traits that affect survival or reproduction. This variation can be due to mutations, environmental changes, or other factors.
Evaluate the given situations: In the situation where a population of birds develops a mutation allowing them to digest a new type of seed, there is a variation in traits (the mutation) that increases survival rate, leading to natural selection.
Conclude which situation leads to natural selection: The situation with the birds and the mutation is the one that leads to natural selection because it involves a heritable trait that affects survival and reproduction, unlike the other scenarios where all individuals are equally affected.