A few years ago the population of male blue moon butterflies on the island of Samoa declined. One hypothesis for the decline of the male butterflies is that a parasite infected the cells of female butterflies. The parasite was passed to offspring through the females’ eggs and killed the male butterfly embryos. At one point during the decline, nearly all the butterflies in the population were females, but after five years the number of males in the population increased significantly.
Which explanation most likely accounts for the increase in teh number of mae butterflies in the five years after the initial paracite problem?
A Male butterflies in the population that survived were able to prey on the parasites living in the females’ egg cells.
B Female butterflies in the population that survived had a genetic adaptation that allowed them to transform into male butterflies.
C Male butterflies in the population that survived had a gene that made them resistant to the parasite, and they passed the gene on to their offspring. ****
D Female butterflies in the population that survived were able to protect the male eggs from the parasite and provide extra care for the male offspring.
I believe the answer is C, but I'm not sure. Please Help!!!
I agree.
Yes, C
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To find the answer to this question, let's carefully evaluate each option and determine which one is the most likely explanation for the increase in the number of male butterflies in the five years after the initial parasite problem.
A. Male butterflies in the population that survived were able to prey on the parasites living in the females' egg cells.
This option suggests that surviving male butterflies somehow eliminated the parasites within the females' egg cells. However, there is no evidence provided to support this hypothesis. Moreover, it is unlikely that male butterflies would have the means to actively target and eliminate parasites within the females' eggs. Therefore, option A is unlikely.
B. Female butterflies in the population that survived had a genetic adaptation that allowed them to transform into male butterflies.
This option suggests that surviving female butterflies underwent a genetic transformation that allowed them to change their sex from female to male. However, such a drastic genetic adaptation happening within a five-year time frame is highly unlikely. Additionally, there is no information in the given context to suggest such a transformation. Therefore, option B is unlikely.
C. Male butterflies in the population that survived had a gene that made them resistant to the parasite, and they passed the gene on to their offspring.
This option suggests that surviving male butterflies had a gene that provided resistance against the parasite, allowing them to survive and pass on this resistance to their offspring. This explanation aligns with evolutionary principles, where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. It is reasonable to assume that, over time, the population of male butterflies would increase due to the presence of this resistance gene. Therefore, option C is the most likely explanation.
D. Female butterflies in the population that survived were able to protect the male eggs from the parasite and provide extra care for the male offspring.
This option suggests that surviving female butterflies were able to protect male eggs from the parasite and provide extra care for male offspring, thereby increasing their survival rate. While this explanation seems plausible, it does not account for the increase in the number of male butterflies over time. It only addresses their survival and not their reproductive success. Therefore, option D is unlikely.
Based on the given information, option C - Male butterflies in the population that survived had a gene that made them resistant to the parasite, and they passed the gene on to their offspring - is the most likely explanation for the increase in the number of male butterflies in the population.