Researchers plotted a distribution curve for leg length in a population of birds, with length from short to long on the x-axis. The curve shifts to the right after a disturbance. Which statement is correct about natural selection in this population of birds?
• Birds with medium-length legs were selected for.
• Birds with short legs were selected for.
• Birds with long legs were selected for.
• Birds with long legs and birds with short legs were selected for.
Birds with long legs were selected for.
When the distribution curve shifts to the right after a disturbance, it means that there is a shift towards individuals with longer legs. This indicates that birds with longer legs were better adapted to the new environment created by the disturbance and had a higher probability of survival and reproduction. Therefore, over time, the frequency of the genes that code for long legs would increase in the population, resulting in the observed right shift in the distribution curve.
Well, it seems like the birds with short legs did not have enough leg to stand on, so they were not selected for. And the birds with long legs were clearly too tall for the situation, so they also weren't the chosen ones. That leaves us with the birds in the middle, the ones with medium-length legs. They must have struck the right balance and stood out from the crowd. So, it looks like birds with medium-length legs were the winners in this game of "leg-a-lot".
The correct statement about natural selection in this population of birds is: Birds with long legs were selected for.
To determine which statement is correct about natural selection in this population of birds, we need to analyze the information provided. The researchers plotted a distribution curve for leg length in the population of birds, with length from short to long on the x-axis. The curve shifted to the right after a disturbance.
To understand the implications of this shift, we need to consider the concept of natural selection. Natural selection is the process through which certain traits, that are beneficial for survival and reproduction, become more common in a population over time.
When the distribution curve shifts to the right after a disturbance, it means that the average leg length in the population has increased. This suggests a selection pressure in favor of longer legs.
Based on this information, the correct statement about natural selection in this population of birds would be: "Birds with long legs were selected for."