In a certain species of insect, some individuals have flattened white disks on their bodies that protrude and interlock, resembling an orchid flower. This adaptation provides the insect with a better opportunity to capture its prey. If environmental conditions remain unchanged, it is most likely that, in future generations, the proportion of the population with this adaptation will:
a. Increase, only
b. Decrease, only
c. Increase, then decrease
d. Decrease, then increase
Answer (3)
Probably increase. Most animals increase their evolution.
The question concerns the evolutionary process of natural selection in a certain insect species that has adapted to resemble an orchid flower. This adaptation gives these insects an advantage in capturing prey and consequently increases their chances of survival and reproduction. Given the information that the environmental conditions remain unchanged, we can infer that over time, the proportion of the population exhibiting this beneficial adaptation will likely increase. This is because the insects with the adaptation are more likely to survive and pass their genes on to the next generation, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology.
The proportion of the insect population with the flower-like adaptation is most likely to increase over future generations due to natural selection, as these insects have a better chance of survival and reproduction. Therefore, the selected option is (a) Increase, only.
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