Question

select the correct answer.
in a laboratory population of flies, the female flies are gray and the males are yellowish gray. biologists observed that all the male flies had an equal chance for reproduction, but the male flies with the brightest colors were more likely to successfully reproduce. what phenomenon could explain such a change?
a. sexual selection
b. disruptive selection
c. stabilizing selection
d. directional selection

Explanation:

Sexual selection is a type of natural selection where individuals with certain traits are more likely to reproduce. In this case, male flies with the brightest colors having a higher chance of reproduction fits the concept of sexual selection. Stabilizing selection favors average traits, disruptive selection favors extreme traits over intermediate ones, and directional selection shifts the population towards one extreme. Here, the trait (bright color in males) is related to reproductive success which is key in sexual selection.

Answer:

A. sexual selection