Question

question 36
a population of lizards lives on an island and has a large range of adult body sizes. a new predator is introduced to the island, and this predator prefers eating only small lizards. what pattern of natural selection would you expect the lizard population to experience as a result of this change in their environment?
a intermediate selection
b bifurcating selection
c stabilizing selection
d directional selection
e disruptive selection
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Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each selection type:

• Intermediate selection: Not a standard natural selection term.
• Bifurcating selection: Also not a recognized natural selection pattern.
• Stabilizing selection: Favors intermediate traits, eliminating extremes. But here, small lizards (an extreme) are selected against, so this is not it.
• Directional selection: Favors one extreme trait (e.g., larger body size, since small lizards are preyed on). The population will shift toward larger sizes, which matches directional selection (shifts the population mean in one direction).
• Disruptive selection: Favors both extremes, eliminating intermediates. This does not apply here.

Answer:

D. directional selection