Tourist companies start visiting Island X, where the new colony of medium ground finches see previous question) feeds on the tough- fruited Tribulus cistoides. The tourist companies set up reliable feeding stations with a variety of bird seeds different types and sizes), so that tourists can get a better look at the finches. Which of these events is now most likely to occur to finch beaks on Island X?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

With the introduction of feeding stations, the finches now have access to a variety of bird seeds, which may result in increased variation in beak size and shape as different beak types become more advantageous for accessing different types of food. This increased variation may ultimately lead to the formation of new species, as the different populations become isolated from each other due to their specialized beak morphologies. The other choices are unlikely because natural selection typically favors traits that increase an organism's fitness, and in this case, none of the choices would necessarily confer a significant advantage to the finches.

Tourist Companies Start Visiting Island X, Where the New Colony