Question
SC.912.L 15.13: Natural Selection 201. Over time, the climate of an island became drier, which resulted in changes to the populations of various island finch species. Finch populations with a certain beak shape were able to forage for food. The population of those not having that beak shape decreased. Which of the following describes a necessary condition for these changes in the finch populations to occur? A. fewer mutations B. limited resources C. limited beak variations D. underproduction of offspring
Answer
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Lucas
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Answer
B. Limited resources
Explanation
## Step 1: Understand the questionThe question is asking for a necessary condition for the changes in the finch populations to occur. This is a question about natural selection, which is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.## Step 2: Analyze the optionsA. Fewer mutations: Mutations can lead to variations, but they are not a necessary condition for natural selection. B. Limited resources: This is a key factor in natural selection. When resources are limited, competition occurs, and those better adapted (in this case, finches with a certain beak shape) are more likely to survive and reproduce.C. Limited beak variations: Variations can lead to natural selection, but they are not a necessary condition. In fact, more variations could lead to more opportunities for natural selection.D. Underproduction of offspring: This is not a necessary condition for natural selection. In fact, overproduction of offspring can lead to more competition and thus more natural selection.## Step 3: Choose the correct answerBased on the analysis, the necessary condition for these changes in the finch populations to occur is 'limited resources'. This is because when resources are scarce, only the organisms best adapted to their environment (in this case, finches with a certain beak shape) are more likely to survive and reproduce.