Suppose that each species of Galápagos tortoise has a distinctive shell. Variations in shell size make some tortoises better adapted for defence. Imagine an island where many hunt on these tortoises; individuals with a larger shell would be more likely to survive and reproduce than would tortoises with smaller shells. These favoured individuals would pass on the genes that produce larger shells to their descendants, while those with smaller shells would not reproduce, leading to extinction. Which of the following would be most likely to drive this event?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Natural selection is the process by which individuals with favourable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to their offspring. In this scenario, tortoises with larger shells are better adapted for defence, and therefore more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, this selection pressure would lead to the evolution of larger shells in the population through natural selection. Spontaneous selection is not a recognized term in evolutionary biology. Hereditary selection is not a relevant concept in this scenario as all traits are hereditary. Artificial selection involves intentional breeding by humans, which is not the case in this scenario.

Suppose That Each Species of Galápagos Tortoise Has a Distinctive