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How does diversifying (disruptive) selection affect the beak size of black-bellied seedcracker finches (Pyrenestes)?

A. Finches with intermediate beak sizes are favored, leading to a uniform population.
B. Finches with either large or small beaks have higher survival rates than those with intermediate beak sizes.
C. Only finches with small beaks survive, while those with large or intermediate beaks disappear.
D. All beak sizes are equally advantageous, resulting in no significant evolutionary change.

Answer :

Final answer:

Disruptive selection in black-bellied seedcracker finches leads to higher survival rates for birds with extreme beak sizes (large or small) as they better adapted to their food sources. This process reduces the frequency of finches with intermediate beak sizes in the population. Consequently, a more diverse range of beak sizes evolves over time, highlighting natural selection's role in shaping species variation.


Explanation:

Effects of Disruptive Selection on Black-Bellied Seedcracker Finches

Disruptive selection is a crucial evolutionary process that can lead to speciation and increased diversity within populations. In the case of the black-bellied seedcracker finches (Pyrenestes), disruptive selection describes a situation where individuals with extreme traits (in this instance, large and small beaks) have a survival advantage over those with intermediate beak sizes.

Mechanism of Disruptive Selection

In environments where available resources such as seeds vary in size, finches with either very large beaks or very small beaks may perform better than those with average-sized beaks. This occurs because:

  • Large beaks are advantageous for cracking open larger seeds.
  • Small beaks are better suited for eating smaller seeds.

As a result, the frequency of finches with intermediate beak sizes diminishes, leading to a more distinct population comprising mainly of finches with large and small beaks.

Consequences for Evolution

This outcome highlights how disruptive selection can contribute to diversity in a population, as the two extremes (large and small beaks) adapt to exploit different niches within their environment, potentially leading to further evolutionary changes. In this scenario, finches with intermediate beak sizes are at a disadvantage, and over time, a population evolutionarily biased toward extremes will emerge.

Conclusion

The correct interpretation of the implications of disruptive selection for black-bellied seedcracker finches is that finches with either large or small beaks have higher survival rates than those with intermediate beak sizes. Therefore, the appropriate conclusion is:

  1. Finches with either large or small beaks have higher survival rates than those with intermediate beak sizes.

Learn more about disruptive selection here:

https://brainly.com/question/31157024


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