Question

Many male songbirds are brightly colored. However, the color of the birds is determined by a balance of?

1) natural selection against bright colors by predation and sexual selection in favor of bright colors
2) mutations that reduce bright colors and gene flow in favor of bright colors
3) mutations that reduce bright colors and sexual selection in favor of bright colors
4) natural selection against bright colors by predation and mutations that introduce bright colors
5) gene flow that reduces bright colors and natural selection in favor of bright colors

Answer 1

Male songbirds are brightly colored and the color is determined by a balance of natural selection against bright colors by predation and sexual selection in favor of bright colors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Male songbirds are brightly colored and the color is determined by a balance of natural selection against bright colors by predation and sexual selection in favor of bright colors. Natural selection acts against bright colors as they make the males more obvious to predators, while sexual selection favors bright colors because females prefer more brightly-colored males. Therefore, the balance between these two selective pressures determines the coloration of male songbirds.