Question

Which of the following statements describes an example of natural selection?

Answer 1

An aloe vera plant possessing a trait for extra thick leaves survives very long droughts in deserts, while and aloe vera plant that doesn't have thick leaves doesn't.

Answer 2

Answer;

An aloe vera plant possessing a trait for extra thick leaves survives a long drought in a desert, while an aloe vera plant that has thinner leaves does not.

Explanation;

• Natural selection occurs when organisms with traits that are well-suited to an environment tend to survive and reproduce at a greater rate than organisms that are less suited to an environment.
• In this case, the trait for extra thick leaves in aloe vera plant is well suited to the environment of a desert. Therefore, those aloe vera plants with this trait will tend to be more adaptable to the desert environment and survive a long drought in a desert, while those plant without this trait will die as they are not adaptable to the environment.