Evolution of Galapagos Finches
Question 1
The divergence between the two populations of Geospiza magnirostris is likely to have occurred due to which of the following factors?
A change in the weather pattern that affected the flowering season of Tribulus cistoides.
The introduction of a new food source in the form of Tribulus terrestris seeds on the neighboring island.
An increase in predators on the original island of Santa Cruz, forcing finches to migrate.
The eruption and subsequent land bridge allowed for gene flow between previously isolated islands.
Question 2
Which of the following isolating mechanisms is most likely responsible for the limited interbreeding between the two populations of Geospiza magnirostris?
Geographic isolation since the finches are now separated by water.
Behavioral isolation due to differences in feeding behavior.
Gametic isolation due to incompatibility of gametes from the two populations.
Temporal isolation due to different flowering seasons of their respective food plants.
Question 3
Suppose the finches from the two populations do interbreed and produce offspring with intermediate beak sizes. These offspring, however, have lower survival rates because they cannot effectively process the seeds of either Tribulus cistoides or Tribulus terrestris. What kind of selection is illustrated by this scenario?
Directional selection favoring specialization in beak size.
Disruptive selection favoring either the ancestral or larger beak size.
Stabilizing selection favoring intermediate beak sizes.
Sexual selection based on beak size attractiveness.
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