Which of the following examples of an ecological effect leading to an evolutionary effect is most correct?
A) When seeds are not plentiful, trees produce more seeds.
B) A few organisms of a larger population survive a drought, and then these survivors emigrate to less arid environments.
C) A few individuals with denser fur survive the coldest days of an ice age, and the reproducing survivors of the ice age all have dense fur.
D) Fish that swim the fastest in running water catch the most prey and more easily escape predation.
E) The insects that spend the most time exposed to sunlight have the most mutations.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario describes natural selection, where individuals with traits that make them better suited to survive in their environment have a higher chance of reproducing and passing on those traits to their offspring. In this case, the individuals with denser fur are better able to survive the cold, and so their offspring are more likely to have denser fur as well. This is an example of an ecological effect (the ice age) leading to an evolutionary effect (the development of denser fur). The other choices are not as accurate or do not include both ecological and evolutionary effects.

Which of the Following Examples of an Ecological Effect Leading