Peter and Rosemary Grant Study Natural Selection in Finches on the Galápagos

question 42

Multiple Choice

Peter and Rosemary Grant study natural selection in finches on the Galápagos Islands.They have hypothesized that dry conditions produce larger seeds and may result in larger beaks in succeeding generations of finches.The figure below shows their data from 1976 and 1978.The y-axis is the number of birds measured and the x-axis is the beak depth.Do their data support their hypothesis and why?

• A)Yes;because there were more birds measured in 1978 after the drought,therefore they must have been able to get food and reproduce.
• B)Yes;because the average beak depth of birds in the population increased from 8.8mm in 1976 to 9.8mm in 1978.
• C)No;because even though more birds were measured in 1978,the beak size of the upper range was smaller.
• D)No;because in 1976,before the drought,the largest beak depth was still 11.3mm.
• E)No;more data would be necessary to show a support of their hypothesis.

---

Definitions:

Opportunity Cost

The cost of foregoing the next best alternative when making a decision, representing the benefits one misses out on when choosing one option over another.

Sunk Cost

A cost that has already been incurred and cannot be recovered.

Market Value

The current price at which an asset or service can be bought or sold.

Water Policy

Regulations and standards governing the use, management, and conservation of water resources to ensure sustainability and equitable access.