Question

A bird that preys on moths is introduced to the habitat with moths and trees like the one shown above.

What will most likely happen to the population of moths in this habitat?
A. The population of moths will eventually become extinct.
B. The moths will evolve due to a selective pressure.
C. The dark colored moths will experience disruptive selection.
D. The alleles that determine light and dark colors in moths will equalize.

Answer 1

The population of moths will most likely undergo directional selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a bird that preys on moths is introduced to a habitat with moths and trees, the population of moths in this habitat will most likely undergo directional selection.

Directional selection occurs when the environment changes and selects for phenotypes at one end of the spectrum of existing variation.

For example, the peppered moth population in England shifted from predominantly light-colored moths to predominantly dark-colored moths during the Industrial Revolution because the dark coloration provided better camouflage against the sooty trees. Similarly, the introduction of a bird predator to a habitat with moths may favor moths with certain traits, causing a shift in the population's genetic variance towards those traits.

Answer 2

The person above me is incorrect.

The answer is actually:

B. The population of light moths will increase due to a selective pressure.