Question

all of these are examples of random evolutionary processes except
a. an earthquake divides a single elk species into two populations, forcing them to no longer interbreed.
b. a mutation in a flower plant results in a new variety.
c. an especially long winter causes a group of migrating birds to shift their home range.
d. a mutation results in a population of trees that spread their seeds more widely than their peers, causing their population to grow.

Explanation:

• Option A: Earthquake is a random event causing geographic isolation (a random evolutionary process - allopatric speciation via random event).
• Option B: Mutations are random changes in DNA, so a mutation leading to a new variety is a random evolutionary process.
• Option C: An especially long winter is a random environmental event that causes a shift in home range (a random evolutionary process affecting population distribution).
• Option D: The mutation here leads to a trait (wider seed spread) that gives a reproductive/adaptive advantage, leading to population growth. This is natural selection, which is a non - random process as it favors traits that increase fitness.

Answer:

D. a mutation results in a population of trees that spread their seeds more widely than their peers, causing their population to grow.