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:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: An earthquake (a random event) causing geographic isolation (a random evolutionary process like genetic drift or speciation via isolation) is random.
• Option B: Mutations are random changes in DNA, so a mutation creating a new flower variety is a random evolutionary process.
• Option C: An especially long winter (a random environmental event) causing birds to shift their home range (a random evolutionary process affecting their population and gene flow) is random.
• Option D: The mutation here leads to a trait (wider seed spread) that increases the tree's fitness (population growth), which is natural selection. Natural selection is a non - random evolutionary process as it favors traits that increase survival and reproduction.

Answer:

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