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When heavily armored marine sticklebacks have invaded freshwater lakes where there are no predatory fish, their populations have evolved lighter body armor. Given what you've learned about evolution, which of the following explanations for why this happens is most plausible?

A. Young sticklebacks only grow heavy armor when they see predatory fish in their environment.
B. When sticklebacks don't use their armor, it shrinks. Then they pass lighter armor to their offspring.
C. Concentrated pollutants in freshwater lakes disrupt the sticklebacks' ability to grow armor.
D. Heavily armored fish grow more slowly and breed later, making armor disadvantageous in these lakes.

Answer :

Final answer:

The most plausible explanation for the evolution of lighter body armor in freshwater stickleback populations is that heavily armored fish grow more slowly and breed later, making armor disadvantageous in environments without predators. This leads to a selection for lighter armor.

Explanation:

The evolution of lighter body armor in marine sticklebacks that have invaded freshwater lakes can be best explained by understanding natural selection and adaptation. Marine sticklebacks originally developed heavy armor as a defense mechanism against predators in their native environment. However, in freshwater lakes where predatory fish are absent, this heavy armor becomes less advantageous. The most plausible explanation for the evolution of lighter body armor in these freshwater populations is that heavily armored fish grow more slowly and breed later, making heavy armor disadvantageous. In environments without predators, the energy and resources invested in growing heavy armor could be better utilized for growth and reproduction. Therefore, individuals with lighter armor, who can grow and reproduce more efficiently, are likely to have a higher survival and reproductive success, leading to an increase in the frequency of genes associated with lighter armor over generations.

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