[Campbell Biology P.526] In Central Florida, soapberry bug populations feeding on the introd... | Practice Question

In Central Florida, soapberry bug populations feeding on the introduced golden rain tree evolved shorter beaks. However, in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Australia, populations feeding on different introduced plant species evolved longer beaks. What is the most likely reason for this difference in evolutionary outcome?

  • A: The introduced golden rain tree has shallower seeds, favoring shorter beaks, while introduced plants in other regions have larger fruits with deeper seeds, favoring longer beaks.
  • B: Different original native soapberry bug populations in these regions had varying genetic predispositions to beak length.
  • C: The climate in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Australia promotes the growth of plants that require longer beaks for feeding.
  • D: The specific species of soapberry bug involved in Florida is different from those in the other regions, leading to different evolutionary pathways.
  • D: The specific species of soapberry bug involved in Florida is different from those in the other regions, leading to different evolutionary pathways.

Explanation

The text explains that soapberry bugs feed most effectively when their beak length matches the seed depth within the fruit. In Central Florida, the introduced golden rain tree has shallower seeds than the native balloon vine, leading to the evolution of shorter beaks. Conversely, in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Australia, the introduced plants have larger fruits with deeper seeds compared to their native counterparts, thus favoring the evolution of longer beaks. This demonstrates how natural selection adapts populations to the specific characteristics of their food source.