Question

Insect pollinators of a particular plant are attracted to its flowers' bright yellow color. the insects not only pollinate the flowers, but they mate while inside of the flowers. a genetically different version of the plant with purple flowers becomes more common with the passage of time. a particular variant of the insect prefers the purple flowers to the yellow flowers. over time, these two insect variants diverge from each other to such an extent that interbreeding is no longer possible. which term best describes this scenario?

a. convergent evolution
b. allopatric speciation
c. sympatric speciation
d. adaptive radiation
e. habitat isolation

Answer 1

The term that best describes the scenario where different insect variants diverge within the same habitat and can no longer interbreed is sympatric speciation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario described by the student is where the genetic divergence of insect variants leads to reproductive isolation and eventually results in species becoming so distinct from one another that they can no longer interbreed. The situation is one where two different populations of a species share the same habitat and diverge without geographical separation. The term that best describes this scenario is sympatric speciation. This is when new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region. In this case, the insect variants adapted to different flower colors, eventually leading to reproductive isolation.