Question

A balanced polymorphism exists through disruptive selection in ground finches from the Galapagos in which small- and large-billed birds specialize in cracking soft and hard seeds, respectively. If long-term climatic change resulted in all seeds becoming soft, what type of selection would then operate on the finch population?

Answer 1

The correct answer is - directional selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a population, if a particular phenotype is favored among all others in every individual by continuously shifting the allele frequency towards one direction only, this type of selection called directional selection. It is a mode of natural selection.

In this case, the finch population will change towards the directional selection due to the food source become similar for both small and large-billed due to climatic change in the long term all seeds become soft so the small billed will be more favored.