The ventral coloration of male fence lizards ranges from very bright blue to dul
ID: 27590 • Letter: T
Question
The ventral coloration of male fence lizards ranges from very bright blue to dull blue. A scientist hypothesizes that brightness of male ventral color is under sexual selection such that female lizards prefer brightly colored males. To test this hypothesis a scientist presents receptive females with three males of equal size but of varying ventral brightness where male 1 is of intermediate brightness, male 2 is the brightest, and male 3 the dullest. Which of the following findings would most strongly support this hypothesis? Answer Females respond to ventral color display of male 2 > male 1 > male 3 Females respond to ventral color display of male 1 > male 2 > male 3 Females respond to ventral color display of male 3 > male 1 > male 2 Females respond to ventral color display of male 2 > male 3 > male 1Explanation / Answer
If the hypothesis is that females prefer brightly colored males, then they should prefer the males in order of decreasing brightness: male 2 > male 1 > male 3 Male 2 is the brightest, so females prefer it the most, while male 3 is the dullest, so females prefer it the least.
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