A small number of birds arrive on an island from a neighbouring larger island. This small population begins to adapt to the new food plants available on the island, and their beaks begin to change. About twice a year, one or two more birds from the neighbouring island arrive. These new arrivals ________.
A) speed up the process of speciation
B) tend to promote adaptation to the new food plants
C) tend to slow adaptation to the new food plants
D) represent a colonising event response

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The arrival of new birds from the neighbouring island slows down the process of adaptation to the new food plants because their genetic makeup may not be suited to the new environment. This can dilute the adaptations that were occurring in the original small population, leading to a slower rate of adaptation overall.

A Small Number of Birds Arrive on an Island from a Neighbouring