On the Bahamian island of Andros, mosquitofish populations live in various, now-isolated, freshwater ponds that were once united. Currently, some predator-rich ponds have mosquitofish that can swim in short, fast bursts; other predator-poor ponds have mosquitofish that can swim continuously for a long time. When placed together in the same body of water, the two kinds of female mosquitofish exhibit exclusive breeding preferences. If one builds a canal linking a predator-rich pond to a predator-poor pond, then what type(s) of selection should subsequently be most expected among the mosquitofish in the original predator-rich pond, and what type(s) should be most expected among the mosquitofish in the formerly predator-poor pond?A. Perform a reciprocal transfer of females between predator-rich and predator-poor ponds.
B. Transfer only female mosquitofish from a predator-rich pond to a predator-poor pond.
C. Remove predators from a predator-rich pond and transfer them to a predator-poor pond.
D. Build a canal linking the two ponds that permits free movement of mosquitofish, but not of predators.

Respuesta :

Answer: C. less-intense directional selection; more-intense directional selection

Explanation:

DIRECTIONAL SELECTION

This is when some members of a specie who are homozygous of one allele are stronger than the rest.

Conversely in that same species there are members who are weaker than the rest.

There will be a convergence to the allele that is most associated with survival in the long run. This will be the equilibrium allele.

Because a canal was opened between the 2 ponds, predators are now free to swim into the predator poor pond.

The mosquitofish in the formerly rich predator pond have had to learn to adapt and are fitter or faster than the ones in the predator poor pond. Because of this they will experience LESS INTENSE DIRECTIONAL SELECTION as opposed to their counterparts in the predator poor pond who have not really had to evolve to be as fast or as fit because they have not had a lot of experience with predators. They will therefore experience a MORE INTENSE DIRECTIONAL SELECTION to evolve as quickly as possible to the fitter and faster genes of the predator rich pond mosquito fish.

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