A small number of birds arrive on an island from a neighboring 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 neighboring 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 colonizing event response

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The new arrivals from the neighboring island would bring in genetic diversity to the small population, which could slow down the process of adaptation to the new food plants. This is because the new genetic traits may not always be compatible with the existing genetic traits, causing potential conflicts and reducing the chances of successful adaptation. The colonizing event response would refer more to the initial arrival of the small population on the island, rather than the occasional arrivals of one or two more birds from the neighboring island. Speeding up the process of speciation or promoting adaptation to the new food plants could occur in certain circumstances, but there is no indication in the given scenario to support these options.

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