Use Figure 21.2 to answer the following question. Figure 21.2
Soon after the island of Hawaii rose above the sea surface (somewhat less than 1 million years ago),the evolution of life on this new island should have been most strongly influenced by
A)genetic bottleneck.
B)sexual selection.
C)habitat differentiation.
D)founder effect.

Question

Use Figure 21.2 to answer the following question.  Figure 21.2
Soon after the island of Hawaii rose above the sea surface (somewhat less than 1 million years ago),the evolution of life on this new island should have been most strongly influenced by
A)genetic bottleneck. 
B)sexual selection. 
C)habitat differentiation. 
D)founder effect.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals separates from a larger population and establishes a new colony with a limited gene pool. In the case of the island of Hawaii, it was formed from volcanic activity and therefore did not have a preexisting population. As a result, the evolution of life on this new island would have been influenced by the founder effect.