Question

How can natural selection affect a predator-prey relationship in an ecosystem?

Choose all answers that are correct.




A.
Natural selection can act on both the predator and prey populations.



B.
Over time populations stay the same even when another population changes.



C.
Nature selects for traits that allow for them to survive and reproduce at a greater rate than those without these traits.



D.
Natural selection only acts on select generations of predator and prey populations.

Answer 1

This should be in the Biology section...

Answers: A and C .

Although, I would consider D as an answer as well. It's just not that clear on what the circumstances of letter D are. It can be valid and invalid. For instance, polar bears used to be brown (i.e., brown bears) until one bear underwent a genetic abnormality and was born as a white bear. It was from this white bear that subsequent generations of bears were caused to turn white. White blends-in with the snowy backdrop of the tundra, which gave them the ability of camouflage against prey, V.S. the brown bears that stuck-out like a sore thumb. The white bears had a greater chance of survival, because the brown bears were readily-seen by prey, and hence, died-off, thus, resulting in a bear population in the tundra, that is dominantly-white.

Answer 2

One might want to omit D as a choice based solely on word choice. Natural selection will always act on every generation, not just select ones.