Question

Study Figure 1. Identify the type of natural selection
illustrated by the graph. Explain.

Answer 1

dark snails are the fittest. the dark snails have a better chance at survival because they are harder to spot by their predators. the white snail has a low chance of survival because of the easy to spot color.

Answer 2

Based on the graph, the type of natural selection at play is most likely disruptive selection.

The graph shows two clear peaks in the distribution of beak sizes, indicating the presence of two distinct morphs or phenotypes within the population and is a key characteristic of disruptive selection.

Reduced intermediate phenotype, we can see that the area between the two peaks is relatively low, suggesting that individuals with intermediate beak sizes are less common or even absent which is an implication that the selection is favoring the extreme phenotypes (large and small beaks) over the average beak size.

Disruptive selection often arises when the environment favors both extremes of a trait. For example, birds with larger beaks might be better at cracking hard seeds, while those with smaller beaks might be more efficient at catching insects. This creates two distinct niches that individuals can specialize in, leading to the observed bimodal distribution.