Question

A large population of mice is isolated on an island. There are two varieties of the mice, brown and gray. Their fur colors closely match the gray rock outcrops and brown soils of the island. Hawks are their main predators. This situation most likely reflects the outcome of __________.A. stabilizing natural selectionB. directional natural selectionC. disruptive natural selectionD. genetic drift

Answer 1

Answer:

C. disruptive natural selection

Explanation:

Disruptive selection is a type of natural selection in which extreme phenotypes are favored over intermediate phenotypes in a population. Environmental change is a major factor that can bring about disruptive selection. The individuals with the extreme phenotypes adapt well and are able to survive in the particular environment, while those individuals with intermediate phenotypes would hardly survive or be greatly reduced in number.

The gray rock outcrops and the brown soils of the Island favors the survival of mice with brown and gray fur color respectively. The fur colors of these two extreme phenotypes in the population of mice, have helped both varieties against Hawks as their main predators, hence establishing their existence on the Island.