Evolution Open Responses
star
star
star
star
star
Last updated over 2 years ago
6 Nsɛmmisa
Wild red wolves were once common in the southeastern United States. As this area became more developed, the number of wild red wolves was drastically reduced to about 20 individuals by 1967. These remaining wolves were captured and bred. In 1987, some captive-born red wolves were released into an area of North Carolina. Today, there are more than 50 wild red wolves living in North Carolina.
Identify two ways development in the southeastern United States most likely contributed to the decline of the red wolf population. Explain each of your answers.
Compare the red wolf’s genetic diversity before the southeastern United States became more developed to the red wolf’s genetic diversity in 1967. Explain your answer.
Describe one other action, besides capturing and breeding, that could increase the number of red wolves in the southeastern United States. Explain how this action could increase the number of red wolves.
Some plants in an area produce a toxin that protects them from being eaten by a variety of insect species. The toxin decreases reproductive rates in insects. Because of a genetic mutation, some fruit flies can detect the plant toxin and therefore avoid eating the plant.
Describe how the number of fruit flies in the population that can detect the toxin will most likely change over the next 25 years.
According to the mechanism of natural selection, explain how the change you described in number 4 will occur.
Based on the changes in the fruit fly population, describe what will most likely happen to the plants' production of the toxin. Explain your answer.