Consider two plant populations that exist in different types of habitats, one re
ID: 40012 • Letter: C
Question
Consider two plant populations that exist in different types of habitats, one relatively wet for most of the year, and the other one dry, and each habitat selects for different traits. Plants in the wet environment are selected for improved tolerance to flooding conditions while plants in the drying habitat select for traits the reduce water loss. If gene flow occurred between these populations but most of the gene flow was from the dry to the wet population what is the most likely prediction?
a)
the population in the dry habitat will lose genetic variation
b)
the population in the wet habitat will lose genetic variation
c)
the population size in the dry habitat will be reduced
d)
the ability of the population in the wet environment to adapt to the wet conditions would be reduced.
the population in the dry habitat will lose genetic variation
b)
the population in the wet habitat will lose genetic variation
c)
the population size in the dry habitat will be reduced
d)
the ability of the population in the wet environment to adapt to the wet conditions would be reduced.
Explanation / Answer
The population in the dry habitat remain with the same genetic variation and there will be no loss since no new population entering thie region. The population in the wet habitat also remain with the same genetic variation though the gene flow occurs from dry to wet region. Genetic alteration in wet inhabiting population do not take place.
The gene flow occurs between the two populations from dry to wet but it does not effect the population size. The ability of population that newly established in wet conditions to adapt to the conditions would be reduced when the gene flow occurs from dry to wet conditions. Therefore, option d is correct.