You are studying a species of frog in which individuals from two successive generations can no longer interbreed, suggesting that the offspring are a different species from the parents. If speciation occurred because of changes in chromosome counts between the parents and the offspring, would this be an example of speciation by natural selection?
A)Yes, because all speciation events involve natural selection.
B)Yes, because there is genetic variation present due to differences in chromosome numbers.
C)Yes, because natural selection is involved whenever there is a difference in the genome size between the parents (species 1)and the offspring (species 2).
D)No. Speciation occurred, but natural selection was not involved.
E)No. Natural selection can only act on populations, not on individuals.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Changes in chromosome counts are a mechanism for speciation, but they do not necessarily involve natural selection. Speciation can also occur through other mechanisms such as geographic isolation or hybridization.

You Are Studying a Species of Frog in Which Individuals