Concept explainers
To review:
The processes that might contribute to the evolution of Batesian mimicry in two butterfly species and would the same processes affect both the mimic and the model similarity. Also, determine the process that contributes to the evolution of the mutualistic relationship between ants and acacia trees, and the way in which their action on the two mutualistic differ.
Introduction:
The microevolutionary processes include changes like gene flow, genetic drift, mutation, natural selection, and nonrandom mating. These phenomenons affect the relationships and interactions between the species and therefore help them to evolve. The genetic drift is drastic extinction of a species by any incident, while gene flow is a movement of a species from its native place onto another land.
Mutation refers to an occurrence of any random change into the genes of an individual. Natural selection is the selection of better species among the existing population and nonrandom mating is the mating between two organisms of the same population.
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- Peter and Rosemary Grant of Princeton University have studied the ecology and evolution of finches on the Galapagos Islands since the early 1970s. They have shown that finches with large bills (as measured by bill depth; see Figure) can eat both small seeds and large seeds, but finches with small bills can only eat small seeds. In 1977, a severe drought on the island of Daphne Major reduced seed production by plants. After the birds consumed whatever small seeds they found, only large seeds were still available. The resulting food shortage killed a majority of the medium ground finches (Geospizafortis) on Daphne Major; their population plummeted from 751 in 1976 to just 90 in 1978. The Grants research also documented a change in the distributions of bill depths in the birds from 1976 to 1978, as illustrated in the graphs to the right. In light of what you now know about the relationship between bill size and food size for these birds, interpret the change illustrated in the graph. What type of natural selection does this example illustrate? Source: P. R. Grant. 1986. Ecology and Evolution of Darwins Finches. Princeton University Press.arrow_forwardplease help with these two questions:Microevolution is best defined as which of the following? a. The transfer of genes between different species. b. The associations between traits between different species. c. The evolution of populations within a single species. d. Evolution above the species level. Evolutionary changes in beak size of Galapagos finches is associated with changes in which of these other traits? a. Bird migration b. Bird leg length c. Bird song d. Bird flightarrow_forwardDarwin’s finches have different beaks in terms of size and shape to be able to eat different food sources like insects, nectar, and seeds. Cactus finches have longer, more pointed beaks to probe cactus flowers compared to their relatives, the ground finches. If a plant disease killed a large portion of the cacti on the Galapagos islands, what would the future populations of finches look like in terms of beak size and shape? Use your knowledge of natural selection to determine which option is most likely. Ground finches would survive and pass on their shorter and wider beaks, so there would be a higher proportion of finches in future generations that have short and wide beaks. Ground finches would survive and pass on their beaks, but they would mate with the remaining cactus finches, creating a new hybrid that is somewhere between short versus long and narrow versus wide. Cactus finches would compete for food with ground finches and exhibit resource partitioning, so the beaks…arrow_forward
- Discuss how movement and migration behaviors are a result of natural selectionarrow_forwardDarwin's studies of Galapagos finches are well known in the study of evolution. These studies have been instrumental in helping us understand how new species evolved from pre-existing species. Which statement is true about the speciation of the Galapagos finches? Responses A The finches had different traits that influenced the environment in which they chose to live. The finches had different traits that influenced the environment in which they chose to live. - no response given B The finches evolved traits to help them survive in different environments. The finches evolved traits to help them survive in different environments. - no response given C Members of the original population evolved in such a way that it became impossible for individuals from the two new populations to interbreed. Members of the original population evolved in such a way that it became impossible for individuals from the two new populations to interbreed. - no response given D Genetic…arrow_forwardUse each of the following species concepts to write a claim about whether the dark and light fur mice are, in fact, different species. Your claim should demonstrate your understanding of that particular species concept. Mice with light coat colors are found in populations scattered across the southeastern US. Researchers believe the light coat color emerged in a single population. How would a biologist explain the evolution of the light coat color in populations across the southeastern US? Briefly explain your reasoning.arrow_forward
- The graph in Figure 3 represents the beak sizes of the offspring of the birds that survived the drought of1977. (The survivors were represented by the black bars in Figure 2, and this graph shows the beak depth distribution of their offspring in 1978.) Explain the observed change in beak characteristics using the following concepts in your answer: competition, survival of the fittest, inheritance.arrow_forwardWhich of the following is NOT true for the speciation of finches in the Galapagos islands? A. Natural selection acted on beak shape, and resulted in different beak morphologies for different food sources. B. Assortative mating reinforced existing divergence between birds. C. Speciation of finches started by birds starting to specialize on different food sources. D. Speciation of finches on the same island is due to allopatric speciation.arrow_forwardExplain the following in a detailed manner. 1. Why is it some certain species can be able to survive while others are eliminated or go extinct? 2. Ellis-van Creveld syndrome is a disease caused by the founder effect under genetic drift. Given that fact, what significant role does migration play in the genetic evolution of certain species? 3. What are the long-term implications of macroevolution to biodiversity?arrow_forward
- What makes the ecosystem of the Galapagos Island different than those found on large continentals? Upon what did Charles Darwin's original research on finches of the Galapagos Island focus? Describe the research Peter and Rosemary Grant conducted on the finches in the 1970's. Discuss the relationship between the finches' beak depth size and survival in terms of natural selection and fitness and the environmental causes that shaped the finch population of the islands.arrow_forwardOne way to prevent a small population of a plant or animal species from going extinct is to deliberately introduce some individuals from a large population of the same species into the smaller population. In terms of the evolutionary mechanisms discussed in this chapter, what are the potential benefits and drawbacks of transferring individuals from one population to another? Do you think biologists and concerned citizens should take such actions?arrow_forward1. Wood duck is one of the most recognizable birds in the United States. In the late winter season, the males attract the females with their call and colorful markings. The female wood ducks chose their partner based on their attractiveness. They then pair up and begin breeding in the early spring. What mechanism of evolution is described in the given situation? a. natural selection b. genetic drift c. non-random mating d. genetic flow 2. Which of these factors DO NOT produce an adaptive evolutionary change in a given environment? a. natural selection b. none of them c. mutation d. genetic driftarrow_forward
- Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning