Question

variations within a species are an important part of charles darwins theory of evolution. which example can be explained by individual variation?
the food source in a lake is not enough to support the bass population, but it can support the trout
a population of brown bears has doubled in the past 10 years as its habitat size has increased.
owls and foxes compete fiercely against each other for small rodents in their habitat.
brightly colored cardinals are better able to survive and to reproduce than darker cardinals.

Explanation:

Individual variation refers to differences among members of the same species. In Darwin's theory, these variations can lead to differential survival and reproduction.

• Option 1: This is about different species (bass and trout) and resource availability, not individual variation within a species.
• Option 2: This is about population growth due to habitat size increase, not individual variation.
• Option 3: This is about inter - species competition (owls and foxes), not individual variation within a species.
• Option 4: Brightly colored and darker cardinals are within the same species. The difference in color (individual variation) leads to differences in survival and reproduction, which is in line with Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection acting on individual variations.

Answer:

Brightly colored cardinals are better able to survive and to reproduce than darker cardinals.