A small number of birds arrive on an island from a neighboring larger island. This small population begins to adapt to the new food plants available on the island, and their beaks begin to change. About twice a year, one or two more birds from the neighboring island arrive. What effect do these new arrivals have?
A) Their arrival tends to slow adaptation to the new food plants.
B) Their arrival represents a colonizing event.
C) Their arrival tends to promote adaptation to the new food plants.
D) Their arrival speeds the process of speciation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The arrival of new birds from the neighboring larger island tends to slow adaptation to the new food plants because it introduces new genetic material and potentially disrupts the genetic changes that were occurring in the isolated population on the small island.

A Small Number of Birds Arrive on an Island from a Neighboring