A storm blows a small group of migrating birds off course and they land on an island,where they remain for 100 generations.At this time,a second storm brings more birds from the mainland population to the island.These new birds cannot mate with the established birds,even though they are originally from the same population.What mechanisms are likely to have been involved in bringing about this speciation? Select all that apply.
A) Genetic drift
B) Polyploidy in the mainland bird population.
C) Founder effect
D) Adaptation to a new ecological niche

Question

A storm blows a small group of migrating birds off course and they land on an island,where they remain for 100 generations.At this time,a second storm brings more birds from the mainland population to the island.These new birds cannot mate with the established birds,even though they are originally from the same population.What mechanisms are likely to have been involved in bringing about this speciation? Select all that apply.
A) Genetic drift
B) Polyploidy in the mainland bird population.
C)  Founder effect
D) Adaptation to a new ecological niche

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A) Genetic drift could have caused significant changes in the gene pool of the small group of birds due to random fluctuations in allele frequencies, leading to speciation over time.C) The founder effect is a type of genetic drift that occurs when a new population is established by a very small number of individuals from a larger population. This small group of migrating birds landing on an island is a classic example, potentially leading to speciation as the gene pool of the island population diverges from that of the mainland population.D) Adaptation to a new ecological niche involves changes in the species as it adapts to new environmental conditions on the island. Over 100 generations, these adaptations could lead to significant evolutionary changes, resulting in speciation.

A Storm Blows a Small Group of Migrating Birds Off