The Fish in a Certain Population Average 10 Millimeters in Length

question 4

Multiple Choice

The fish in a certain population average 10 millimeters in length. Imagine that a population of predatory birds arrives in the area, but they cannot eat fish longer than 15 millimeters. After a decade, if the fish average 14 millimeters in length, what probably happened?

• A) The presence of the predator caused mutations for larger fish to occur.
• B) The longer fish survived and produced more offspring than shorter fish.
• C) There was stabilizing selection for fish length.
• D) The fish and the predator coevolved.
• E) There was disruptive selection for fish length.

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Definitions:

Subscript

A character or symbol set or printed below the normal line of text, often used in chemical formulas to indicate the number of atoms.

Non-metallic Elements

Elements that do not exhibit metallic characteristics, broadly classified into metalloids, nonmetals, and noble gases, such as carbon, sulfur, and neon.

Conduct Electricity

The ability of a substance to allow the flow of electrical current or charges through it.

Conduct Heat

To conduct heat means to transfer thermal energy through a substance, due to a temperature difference, without the substance itself moving significantly.