Sea slugs often have very bright coloration. One species varies from bright yellow to light green to neon blue. This species of slug happens to live in a coral reef dominated by bright yellow sea whips and blue brain coral. The green slugs stand out to predators and are eaten more often than the blue or yellow slugs.
What are the extreme traits?
Dark brown and light brown
What is the middle trait?
What trait(s) are being selected for? (middle trait, one extreme, both extremes)
What trait(s) are being selected against? (middle trait, one extreme, both extremes)
What type of natural selection is occurring? (directional disruptive or stabilizing)
What would happen to the sea slug population if this coral reef was overgrown by green algae that killed all the sea whips and brain coral?
What type of natural selection would be occurring then? (directional disruptive or stabilizing)
Answers
Answer:
Natural selection can act on traits determined by alternative alleles of a single gene, ... As an example, let's imagine a population of brown and white rabbits, whose coat ... color is controlled by many genes and varies in a spectrum from light to dark green. ... Both extreme phenotypes are more fit than those in the middle.
This type of natural selection occurs when there are selective pressures working against two extremes of a trait and therefore the intermediate or “middle” trait is selected for
In directional selection, a population's genetic variance shifts toward a new phenotype when exposed to environmental changes. Diversifying or disruptive selection increases genetic variance when natural selection selects for two or more extreme phenotypes that each have specific advantages.
Sea slugs often have very bright coloration. One species varies from bright yellow to light green to neon blue. This species of slug happens to live in a coral reef dominated by bright yellow sea whips and blue brain coral. The green slugs stand out to predators and are eaten more often than the blue or yellow slugs. What are the extreme traits? What is the middle trait? What trait(s) are being selected for? What trait(s) are being selected against? What type of natural selection in occurring? What would happen to the sea slug population if this coral reef was overgrown by green algae that killed all the sea whips and brain coral
Diversifying (or disruptive) selection: Diversifying selection occurs when extreme values for a trait are favored over the intermediate values. This type of selection often drives speciation. Diversifying selection can also occur when environmental changes favor individuals on either end of the phenotypic spectrum.
Explanation: