Natural Selection

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Questions and Answers

In the context of the image, what is the most likely outcome if the environment continues to favor green beetles?

Both green and orange beetle populations will stabilize at equal numbers.
The beetle population will evolve to produce entirely new colors to avoid predation.
The orange beetles will rapidly adapt and become more prevalent.
The green beetle population will increase, while the orange beetle population decreases. (correct)

Considering the concept of selective pressure, which of the following scenarios would exemplify a situation where orange beetles might eventually become more prevalent than green beetles?

A disease that specifically targets green beetles spreads throughout the population.
The birds develop a preference for eating only green beetles.
The environment undergoes a change, making orange beetles better camouflaged.
All of the above. (correct)

What broader biological principle is demonstrated by the events in the image?

Mutation, where sudden and drastic changes occur in an organism's DNA.
Artificial selection, where humans intentionally breed organisms for specific traits.
Genetic drift, where allele frequencies change randomly.
Natural selection, where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully. (correct)

If a mutation arose that caused some beetles to be brown, how would this new variation likely impact the beetle population in the long term?

The impact would depend on how well the brown beetles are camouflaged and how the birds respond to them. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of heritability relate to the scenario depicted in the image?

Heritability means that the color trait in beetles is passed down from parents to offspring, allowing natural selection to act upon it. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the birds in the scenario presented in the image?

The birds are a selective pressure that influences the survival of different beetle colors. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What would happen to the beetle population if the birds were removed from the ecosystem?

The selective pressure favoring green beetles would decrease, potentially leading to an increase in the orange beetle population. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does genetic variation within the beetle population contribute to the process illustrated in the image?

Genetic variation provides the raw material (different colors) upon which natural selection can act. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Assuming the green beetles are better camouflaged, what evolutionary advantage does this camouflage provide?

It reduces their risk of being seen and eaten by predators. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase "survival of the fittest" truly mean in the context of the beetles and their environment?

The beetles that are best adapted to their environment are the most likely to survive and reproduce. (A) Signup and view all the answers

If the environment changed suddenly, making the foliage orange instead of green, what would likely happen to the beetle population over time?

The orange beetles would become better camouflaged and their population would likely increase. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does this scenario demonstrate the concept of adaptation?

The beetles are evolving traits that make them better suited to their environment. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In what way does this image represent a simplified model of a real-world ecological interaction?

All of the above. (D) Signup and view all the answers

If the beetles reproduced asexually, how would this affect the rate at which natural selection could act on the population?

Natural selection would act more slowly or not at all because there would be less genetic variation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of allele frequency relate to the changing proportions of green and orange beetles in the population?

The allele for green color is becoming more frequent, while the allele for orange color is becoming less frequent. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Imagine a scenario where the birds also eat certain green plants. How could this affect the selective pressure on the beetle population?

It could decrease the selective pressure, as the birds might be less focused on hunting beetles. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What role does random chance play in the scenario depicted in the image?

Both B and C. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a condition required for natural selection to occur?

The environment must remain constant and unchanging. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How might the introduction of a pesticide that specifically weakens orange beetles affect the long-term evolution of this beetle population?

It would likely accelerate the selection for green beetles, making them even more dominant. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Compared to the scenario of beetles and birds, how does antibiotic resistance in bacteria represent a similar evolutionary process?

Antibiotics act as a selective pressure, favoring bacteria with resistance genes. (A) Signup and view all the answers

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