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The butterflies shown below all belong to the same species, but one of them has inherited a rare mutation for blue wings rather than orange wings. The butterflies feed on nectar from orange flowers, and their color acts as camouflage while they feed.

What will most likely happen to the butterfly with blue wings?

2 Answers

1 vote

Answer:

It will be less likely to survive because it will be more visible to predators.

I know it's a late answer but hopefully it will help others too.

User Uglybugger
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Their population will decrease while that of orange-winged butterflies will increase. Therefore the allelic frequency for blue colored wings will be eventually eliminated from the population.

This is because the blue-winged butterflies will be predated more because they are more conspicuous. Most will not produce before they are predated on hence reducing their numbers. The next generations will have more and more of orange-winged butterflies until the blue-winged butterflies no longer exist in the population.

User Sheshadri
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