Bird guides once listed the myrtle warbler and Audubon's warbler as distinct species. Recently, these birds have been classified as eastern and western forms of a single species, the yellow-rumped warbler. Which of the following pieces of evidence, if True, would be cause for this reclassification?
A)The two forms interbreed often in nature, and their offspring have good survival and reproduction.
B)The two forms live in similar habitats.
C)The two forms have many genes in common.
D)The two forms have similar food requirements.
E)The two forms are very similar in coloration.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the two forms interbreed often in nature and have viable offspring indicates that they are not reproductively isolated, which is a key factor in defining distinct species. Therefore, this would be strong evidence for reclassifying them as a single species. The other options are not as relevant to this specific criterion for defining species.

Bird Guides Once Listed the Myrtle Warbler and Audubon's Warbler