Imagine there is a species-specific fishing regulation that mandates that only adult fish of this species that are 75 cm or longer may be kept; shorter fish must be released. Based on your knowledge of natural selection, you would predict that the average length of the adult fish population will
A) remain unchanged.
B) gradually decline.
C) rapidly decline.
D) gradually increase.
E) rapidly increase.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The regulation creates a selective pressure favoring shorter fish, as they are released and have a chance to reproduce, while longer fish are removed from the population. Over time, this can lead to a gradual decline in the average length of the adult fish population.

Imagine There Is a Species-Specific Fishing Regulation That Mandates That