A population of snakes that eat small rodents enters a new habitat. In the new habitat, there are many species of rodents, and t
heir populations are high because there are few natural predators. What will most likely be the effect on the genetic variation of the snake population? anyone know the answer?
The snake population would increase the genetic variations to fill the available empty ecological niches in the new habitat.
Explanation:
According to the given information, the new habitat of the snake population has a variety of prey species and a few predators. This would make the snake population adapt themselves to feed on the various prey species to avoid any competition.
Progeny of snake population would adapt themselves in different directions to feed on various species of available rodents. The availability of empty ecological niches (various rodent species here) leads to adaptive radiation in the parent population. The progeny of the parent population exhibits divergent evolution and become adapted to feed on different rodent species.
