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 - driven population division (geographic isolation) is a random evolutionary process (genetic drift via founder effect/bottleneck).
• Option B: Mutations are random changes in DNA, so a flower mutation is a random evolutionary process.
• Option C: A long winter - induced range shift is a random environmental event affecting evolution (e.g., natural selection pressures changing randomly).
• Option D: This describes natural selection (a non - random process) where the mutation that aids seed dispersal is favored, leading to population growth. The trait's advantage makes the evolutionary change non - random, unlike the other options which involve random events (earthquake, mutation, random environmental change).

Answer:

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