Question

An example of natural selection is the tail of a male peacock. The females of the species choose mates based on the colors of the males’ tail feathers. If females begin using different criteria than feather color when they choose mates, what would most likely happen to the tails of peacocks over time?

increased variation in tail feather color because the selection pressure has been relieved
increased variation in tail feather color because the peacocks try different ways to impress the females
decreased variation in tail feather color because no form of the trait is advantageous
decreased variation in tail feather color because the only reason for variation was selection pressure

Answer 1

(decreased variation in tail feather color because no form of the trait is advantageous) Due to the fact that the tail color is no longer a necessity, so it will eventually stop being needed and variation will decrease.

Answer 2

The correct answer is option D, decreased variation in tail feather color because the only reason for variation was selection pressure

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Charles Darwin, traits that help an individual in selecting mates are favored by the sexual selection while all other normal traits are favored by natural selection.Thus , it is believed that this sexual mating pressure among the male peacocks produce large variation in the color and pattern.The male peacocks compete with each other to attract the female on the basis of their colorful tails and its varied patterns.