Question

the caterpillars of a certain species of butterfly had a slight variation in that some were hairy, while others were not. their natural predator preferred feeding on the non - hairy caterpillars.
what is the most likely result of this?
the butterfly species will be dominated by hairy caterpillars.
the butterfly species will be dominated by non - hairy caterpillars.
the butterfly species will contain equal numbers of both hairy and non - hairy caterpillars.
the butterfly species will contain a random population of non - hairy and long hair caterpillars.

Explanation:

According to the principle of natural selection, when a natural predator prefers non - hairy caterpillars, the non - hairy caterpillars are more likely to be eaten. Hairy caterpillars, on the other hand, have a survival advantage. Over time, the individuals with the advantageous trait (hairy in this case) are more likely to survive and reproduce. This leads to an increase in the proportion of the population with the advantageous trait.

Answer:

The butterfly species will be dominated by hairy caterpillars.