Question

3

Two populations of rodents prefer to live in different soil types in the same area. One soil type is light-colored and the
other soil type is dark-colored. There is no physical barrier between the two soil types. However, the rodents living in the
light soil only mate with one another, and the rodents living in the dark soil only mate with one another.
Which of the following will most likely happen to these rodent populations over time?
A:The populations will become two different species.
B :The populations will learn to live on top of the soil.
C:The population with the highest birth rate will move to the other soil type.
D:The populations will become more genetically similar to each other.

Answer 1

Reproductive isolation in the two rodent populations living in different soil types, with no interbreeding, is an evolutionary mechanism that most likely will lead to speciation, resulting in each becoming a distinct species over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

When two populations of rodents prefer to live in different soil types and only mate within their respective populations, this scenario suggests that they are undergoing speciation. Over time, because there is no gene flow between the two populations, they are likely to become more genetically distinct. This process is an example of reproductive isolation, a key mechanism in evolution that can lead to the creation of new species. It is outlined in the concept that speciation may occur when two populations become reproductively isolated from each other, as populations of organisms continue to evolve.

The most likely outcome for these rodent populations is that they will become two different species. This concept, endorsed by the enduring understanding of how living systems originate and evolve through natural processes, presents that reproductive isolation, coupled with natural selection, can give rise to new species.