Use the following information when answering the corresponding questions).
The following questions) are based on information from Frank M. Frey, "Opposing Natural Selection from Herbivores and Pa May Maintain Floral- Color Variation in Claytonia virginica Portulacaceae)," Evolution 5811), 2004: 2426- 37.
-Claytonia virginica is a woodland spring herb with flowers that vary from white to pale pink to bright pink. Slugs prefer to eat pink- flowering over white- flowering plants due to chemical differences between the two), and plants experiencing severe herbivory are more likely to die. The bees that pollinate this plant also prefer pink to white flowers, so that Claytonia with pink flowers have a greater relative fruit set than Claytonia with white flowers. A researcher observes that the percentage of different flower colours remains stable in the study population from year to year. If the researcher removes all slugs from the study population, what do you expect to happen to the distribution of flower colours in the population over time?
A) The percentage of pink flowers should increase over time.
B) The percentage of white flowers should increase over time.
C) The distribution of flower colours should randomly fluctuate over time.
D) The distribution of flower colours should not change.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Removing slugs, which preferentially eat pink flowers, would reduce mortality in pink-flowering plants. Since bees prefer pink flowers and they have a greater relative fruit set, removing the predation pressure by slugs would likely result in an increase in the percentage of pink flowers over time due to their higher reproductive success.

Use the Following Information When Answering the Corresponding Questions)