Which statement about the beak size of finches on the island of Daphne Major during prolonged drought is TRUE?
A) Each bird evolved a deeper, stronger beak as the drought persisted.
B) Each bird's survival was strongly influenced by the depth and strength of its beak as the drought persisted.
C) Each bird that survived the drought produced only offspring with deeper, stronger beaks than seen in the previous generation.
D) The frequency of the strong-beak alleles increased in each bird as the drought persisted.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During the prolonged drought on Daphne Major, the availability of seeds changed, favoring birds with deeper, stronger beaks that could crack open the tougher seeds that were more prevalent. Birds with these traits were more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their genes to the next generation. This is an example of natural selection, where the environment influences which traits are advantageous for survival. The statement does not imply that individual birds evolved deeper beaks during their lifetimes or that all offspring automatically had deeper, stronger beaks, but rather that the survival and reproductive success of birds were influenced by their beak characteristics.

Which Statement About the Beak Size of Finches on the Island