A researcher notices that in a certain moth species, some females prefer to feed and lay eggs on domesticated solanaceous plants like potatoes and tomatoes. Other females prefer to feed and lay eggs on wild solanaceous plants like Datura. Both male and female moths primarily use scent to find these plants from afar. Females tend to mate where they feed, and the researcher finds a genetic basis for scent preference in these moths. Based on the above information, what might be occurring in this moth species?
A) divergence due to vicariance
B) postzygotic isolation
C) divergence in sympatry
D) polyploidization

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The observed scent preference in the moth species is an example of divergence in sympatry, as the two groups of females are using different types of plants for feeding and laying eggs in the same geographic location. This can lead to the formation of distinct subpopulations within the same species, with potentially different traits and mating behaviors.

A Researcher Notices That in a Certain Moth Species, Some