Question

In experiments by Greene and colleagues (1987) with the tephritid fly Zonosemata vittigera and the jumping spider Phidippus apacheanus, carefully controlled experiments demonstrated that ________.

1) wing-waving by the tephritid fly was sufficient to prevent predation

2) both wing-waving and wing markings on the tephritid fly mimicked the spider, and thus prevented predation

3) wing marking on the tephritid fly were sufficient to prevent predation

4) neither wing-waving or wing markings on the fly substantially prevented predation

5) wing markings alone were sufficient to prevent predation

Answer 1

The research by Greene and colleagues demonstrated that the combination of wing-waving and wing markings on the tephritid fly mimicked a spider predator, effectively preventing predation and exemplifying Batesian mimicry, which influences natural selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

In experiments by Greene and colleagues (1987) with the tephritid fly Zonosemata vittigera and the jumping spider Phidippus apacheanus, carefully controlled experiments demonstrated that both wing-waving and wing markings on the tephritid fly mimicked the spider, and thus prevented predation. This is an example of Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species evolves the warning coloration of a harmful one to protect itself from predation. In this specific case, the tephritid fly's wing-waving and wing markings replicate the appearance of the jumping spider, discouraging the spider from attacking.

These findings support the idea that one species' response to traits in another can drive natural selection. For instance, the presence of eyespots on butterflies can lead to fleeing behavior in predators like birds since these eyespots mimic the eyes of the predators' own predators. If predators avoid butterflies with eyespots, this trait will be selected for within the butterfly population, thus supporting the claim that interspecies interactions can affect natural selection.