Which of the following situations will lead to natural selection?
A all of the above
B Male lions compete for the right to mate with females, with only one possible winner.
C Two types of fish eat the same kind of food, and one is better able to gather food than the other.
D The seeds of two plants land near each other and one grows larger than the other.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is A) all of the above.
Each of the situations described in the options is an example of a process that could lead to natural selection.
- B) Male lions compete for the right to mate with females, with only one possible winner: This is a classic example of sexual selection, a form of natural selection. In species like lions, males often compete for mates, and the stronger or more dominant male wins the opportunity to pass on his genes. Over time, traits that help males win these competitions, such as strength or size, become more common in the population because those traits are passed down to offspring.
- C) Two types of fish eat the same kind of food, and one is better able to gather food than the other: This situation exemplifies natural selection. The fish that are better at gathering food will survive longer and reproduce more, passing on the traits that make them more efficient at obtaining food. The less effective fish will have a lower chance of survival and fewer offspring, and over time, the population will evolve to favor the traits that enhance food-gathering abilities.
- D) The seeds of two plants land near each other, and one grows larger than the other: This is also an example of natural selection. If one plant grows larger, it may be more successful at obtaining resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. As a result, the larger plant is more likely to survive and reproduce. Over generations, the traits that allow plants to grow larger and outcompete others in resource acquisition will become more common.
In all these examples, the key mechanism is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals based on their traits. Over time, these selective pressures shape the population, leading to the evolution of traits that improve survival and reproductive success in a given environment.