Question

What contributed to the natural selection of the finches' beaks?

Select all that apply.
A Eating tough seeds made their beaks thicker.
B There was an abundance of food available for all finches.
Genetic variation for beak size existed within the population.
Certain beak shapes were better suited for different food sources.
E Reproduction increased in individuals who located enough food.
U
O

Answer 1

The natural selection of finches' beaks was influenced by genetic variation within the population, the suitability of beak shapes for different food sources, and increased reproduction in individuals with beak shapes that allowed for efficient food consumption, particularly during environmental events like drought.

Step-by-step explanation:

Factors that contributed to the natural selection of the finches' beaks include:

• Genetic variation in beak size existed within the population.
• Certain beak shapes were better suited for different food sources.
• Reproduction increased in individuals who located enough food.

Eating tough seeds made the finches' beaks thicker and better adapted for consuming hard nuts. Contrastingly, longer beaks evolved in birds that needed to dip into flowers to reach nectar. Furthermore, during times of drought, finches with larger beaks were able to eat more types of seeds and thus had better survival and reproductive success, leading to an increase in average beak size over time. This is an example of evolution by natural selection based on food availability and suitability of beak shape to the food source, ultimately causing diverse adaptations among the finches on the Galápagos Islands.

Answer 2

The natural selection of finches' beaks was influenced by eating tough seeds, genetic variation, and beak shapes suited for different food sources.

Step-by-step explanation:

The natural selection of finches' beaks was influenced by several factors. First, eating tough seeds led to the development of thicker beaks over time. This allowed the finches to better handle and break open tough seeds, increasing their chances of survival and reproduction.

Secondly, genetic variation for beak size existed within the population. This means that there were finches with different beak sizes, and those with beaks better suited for their environment had an advantage in finding food.

Lastly, certain beak shapes were better suited for different food sources. For example, a finch with a longer, pointed beak would be more efficient at catching insects, while a finch with a shorter, stronger beak would be better at cracking nuts.

Learn more about Natural selection of finches' beaks