A flock of birds with various beak sizes migrates to a new island where their traditional food is not available. However, there are plants that produce a variety of large nuts, which can be eaten by birds with the largest beaks, and plants that produce a variety of small, soft seeds, which can be eaten by birds with the smallest beaks. Over time, this population divides into two species with large and small beaks. This is an example of
A) directional selection.
B) stabilizing selection.
C) disruptive selection.
D) sexual selection.
E) genetic drift.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of disruptive selection, where extreme values for a trait are favored over intermediate values. In this case, birds with very large or very small beaks are favored because they can exploit the available food sources, leading to the population splitting into two distinct groups.

A Flock of Birds with Various Beak Sizes Migrates to a New