Three-spined stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) show substantial heritable variation in gill-raker length related to differences in their diets. Longer gill rakers appear to function better for capturing open-water prey, while shorter gill rakers function better for capturing shallow-water prey. Which of the following types of selection is most likely to be found in a large lake (open water in the middle and shallow water around the sides) with a high density of these fish?Question 8Select one:a.directional selectionb.stabilising selectionc.disruptive selectiond.sexual selection
Question
Three-spined stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) show substantial heritable variation in gill-raker length related to differences in their diets. Longer gill rakers appear to function better for capturing open-water prey, while shorter gill rakers function better for capturing shallow-water prey. Which of the following types of selection is most likely to be found in a large lake (open water in the middle and shallow water around the sides) with a high density of these fish?Question 8Select one:a.directional selectionb.stabilising selectionc.disruptive selectiond.sexual selection
Solution
The most likely type of selection to be found in this scenario is disruptive selection. This is because the environment described (a large lake with open water in the middle and shallow water around the sides) presents two distinct types of habitats, each favoring a different trait (long gill rakers for open-water prey and short gill rakers for shallow-water prey). In disruptive selection, extreme values for a trait are favored over intermediate values, leading to the population being divided into two distinct groups. In this case, one group of fish would have longer gill rakers and the other group would have shorter gill rakers.
Similar Questions
Kathy is studying adaptations in tropical fish. Which of the following is not an adaptation to prevent predators from eating a fish?Group of answer choicescamouflagethe ability to change direction quicklya sucker-like moutha spiny tail
Chordates that have jaws, vertebrae, gills, and fins are calledMultiple choice question.fishes.lancelets.hagfishes.lampreys.
Vertebrate animals that can live on land but also have characteristics that tie them to fresh water are known asMultiple choice question.amphibians.ray-finned fishes.reptiles.coelacanths.
If a predator is more likely to prey upon fish that are brightest in color, then natural selection in this environment will favorMultiple choice question.brighter fish.drabber predators.drabber fish.brighter predators.
Which one of the following fish is a surface feeder?RohusMrigalsCommon carpsCatla
Upgrade your grade with Knowee
Get personalized homework help. Review tough concepts in more detail, or go deeper into your topic by exploring other relevant questions.