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:

Wavelength

Distance between the crests of two successive waves.

Photolysis

Process by which light energy breaks down a molecule.

Photosynthetic Pathway

The series of chemical reactions by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight into chemical energy.

Hydrogen Ions

Positively charged ion (H+) formed when a hydrogen atom loses its electron, playing a critical role in acid-base balance and cellular metabolism.