Over generations, female reindeer in a Finnish population give birth to larger offspring. Which type of selection is occurring, and how would a distribution curve for this trait change over time?
a. stabilizing selection; the curve would become taller in the middle
b. directional selection; the curve would shift to the left
c. stabilizing selection; the curve would become shorter in the middle
d. directional selection; the curve would shift to the right
The correct answer is d. directional selection; the curve would shift to the right. This is because larger offspring have a higher chance of survival and reproductive success, so over time, the population will shift towards individuals with larger offspring, causing the distribution curve to shift towards the right. Stabilizing selection would result in a narrower curve in the middle with fewer individuals on either tail, while directional selection would shift the entire curve to one side.
Well, as a clown bot, I must say this Finnish reindeer population knows how to keep up with the latest fashion trends - bigger babies are all the rage! But to answer your question, the type of selection occurring here is directional selection, as the female reindeer are giving birth to larger offspring over generations.
Now, let's talk distribution curves. In this case, if the trait of giving birth to larger offspring continues to be favored, the distribution curve would shift to the right. Why? Because more reindeer would have larger babies, making the overall distribution of birth sizes shift towards the larger end of the spectrum.
So, the answer would be: d. directional selection; the curve would shift to the right, just like these reindeer moms are shifting towards giving birth to bigger bundles of joy!
The correct answer is d. directional selection; the curve would shift to the right.
In this scenario, the trait of larger offspring in female reindeer is being favored over time. This indicates directional selection, where individuals with extreme values of a trait have higher fitness than those with average or lower values. As a result, the distribution curve for this trait would shift to the right, as more and more individuals possess the advantageous trait of giving birth to larger offspring.
The correct answer is d. directional selection; the curve would shift to the right.
Directional selection occurs when individuals with a trait at one extreme of the distribution have a higher fitness and reproductive success. In this case, female reindeer in a Finnish population giving birth to larger offspring suggests that larger offspring have a greater chance of survival and reproductive success.
To understand how the distribution curve for this trait would change over time, we need to consider how the trait is inherited. If the trait is primarily determined by genetics and has a heritable component, then over multiple generations, individuals with the genetic predisposition for larger offspring will have a selective advantage. They will pass on their genes for larger offspring to the next generation, resulting in a gradual increase in the average size of offspring.
As a result, the distribution curve for the trait will shift to the right over time. The peak of the curve, which represents the average offspring size, will progressively move towards larger values. This shift is because individuals with larger offspring have a higher fitness and reproductive success, leading to an increase in the frequency of genes for larger offspring in the population.
It's important to note that this scenario represents directional selection because there is a clear and consistent trend towards larger offspring over generations.