mastering biology After the drought of 1977, researchers on the island of Daphne Major hypothesized that medium ground finches that had large, deep beaks, survived better than those with smaller beaks because they could more easily crack and eat the tough Tribulus cistoides fruits. If this hypothesis is correct, what would you expect to observe if a population of these medium ground finches colonizes a nearby island where Tribulus cistoides is the most abundant food for the next 1000 years

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Biology

Kristian Randolph

27 August, 15:16

mastering biology After the drought of 1977, researchers on the island of Daphne Major hypothesized that medium ground finches that had large, deep beaks, survived better than those with smaller beaks because they could more easily crack and eat the tough Tribulus cistoides fruits. If this hypothesis is correct, what would you expect to observe if a population of these medium ground finches colonizes a nearby island where Tribulus cistoides is the most abundant food for the next 1000 years

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Alexandria Barr · Answer 1

There will be an evolution of larger, deeper beaks.

Explanation:

Since Tribulus cistoides is the most abundant food in their new environment, the medium ground finches with larger, deeper beaks within the population will be favoured by natural selection.

This group of medium ground finches will multiply and contribute more to successive generations as compared to their weaker counterparts with less large and deep beaks. The later group gradually fades off the population as a result of been less adapted to cracking and eating the tough Tribulus cistoides fruits.

Hence, with time, evolution of larger and deeper beaks will take place in the population.