. You are a field biologist interested in demonstrating evolution in a populatio
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Question
. You are a field biologist interested in demonstrating evolution in a population of crickets that you have studied for two years. During that time, the average mass of individuals (a quantitative trait) has increased (see your data graphed below). Present graphs of other two other data sets you coulcd collect that will convince others that the changes you have observed are the result of evolution by natural selection. With each graph, write a sentence or two that explains what it illustrates. 100 75 50 25- 14 16 18 20 cricket mass (grams)Explanation / Answer
Present graph reveals that average mass (grams) of cricket has been increased in the course of time. This the example of directional selection, which is a mode of natural selection. In directional selection, extreme phenotype has been favoured over normal phenotype. Directional selection can cause change in allelic frequency in the population.
The above graph illustrates that the cricket with higher mass were favoured as compare to crickets with lower masses. This may be results of environmental pressure, such as climate change, change in environment or change in geographical distribution. Therefore, peak of the graph showing mass of crickets was shifted to be between 18 and 20 grams from between 16 to 18 grams.
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