Question

Which of the following examples of natural selection would assist in maintaining the genetic diversity of the population? a) Natural selection selects against larger-sized blue jay birds, and against small-sized blue jay birds. b) In alpine flowers, large-sized flowers set more seed above the evergreen tree zone, and small-sized flowers set more seeds below the evergreen tree zone. c) A small population of skunks inhabit a small burrow near McMaster University and skunk inbreeding occurs in high frequencies over several generations. d) A small population of dandelion plants is blown by a tornado windstorm and colonize a city park's field. e) In a pond-dwelling turtle species, higher average summer temperature selects for turtles with increased heat tolerance over summer long durations of time.

Answer 1

Ans) b) In alpine flowers , large size flower set more seed above the evergreen trees zone and small sized flowers set more seeds below the evergreen tree zone.

Explaination:

Natural selection selects against large sized blue jay birds and against small sized blue jay birds is an example of balancing selection in which selection against both extreme traits. The balancing or stabilizing selection leads to decrease in genetic diversity.

In alpine flowers large size flowers at more seeds above the evergreen tree zone and small size flowers at more seeds below the the evergreen tree zone.In this case both extreme traits are selected hence, example of disrupting selection which leads to increase in genetic diversity in alpine population.

A small population of skunks inhabit a small burrow near McMaster university and skung inbreeding occurs in high frequencies over several generations. This is case of inbreeding which decreases the genetic diversity within a population.

A small population of dandelian plants is blown by a tornedo windstorm and colonize a city Park's field. In this case founder effect of genetic drift occur where small population blown out from original population and colonise in a new habitat, this leads to decrease in genetic diversity because during blown out may leads to decrease in some alleles .

In a pond dwelling turtle species, higher average summer temperature selects for turtles with increased heat tolerance over summer long durations of time. This leads to decrease in genetic diversity as here only higher average summer temperature selects over summer long durations.