Which statement logically predicts how natural selection, when acting on genetic variation, may subsequently result in evolutionary adaptation?
A) As global warming continues, many species found near the tropics will migrate either northward or southward toward the poles.
B) During years of drought, tree rings will be narrower.
C) As the African environment becomes drier and the grasslands more prevalent, arched feet and non-opposable toes, both more effective for walking upright, became more common in hominins.
D) Insect diversity in temperate broadleaf forests will vary from year to year based on the amount of precipitation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This statement describes how a change in the environment (the drier grasslands in Africa) selected for certain traits (arched feet and non-opposable toes), resulting in evolutionary adaptation in hominins.

Answer: A 
 This statement predicts that natural selection may favor certain traits (e.g. cold tolerance) in species that migrate towards the poles in response to global warming, potentially leading to evolutionary adaptation.

Both B and D describe natural variations in environmental factors and their effects on specific traits or populations, but they do not explicitly connect these variations to natural selection or evolutionary adaptation, so they are not the best choices.

Which Statement Logically Predicts How Natural Selection, When Acting on Genetic