[Campbell Biology P.1203] Consider a side-blotched lizard population where the orange-throat ... | Practice Question

Consider a side-blotched lizard population where the orange-throat morph is currently dominant and abundant. If a sudden environmental change led to a significant decrease in available large territories, but small territories remained common, what immediate shift in the population dynamics would most likely occur?

  • A: The orange-throat population would likely increase even further due to less competition for remaining large territories.
  • B: Blue-throats, who defend small territories, would likely gain an advantage and become more frequent.
  • C: Yellow-throats would become the most dominant morph, as they thrive in small, undefended territories.
  • D: All three morphs would equally decline as the overall habitat becomes less suitable for all territory-based strategies.

Explanation

The text explains that 'Blue-throats are abundant, they can defend the few females in their territories from the advances of the sneaky yellow-throat males.' It also implies they defend 'smaller territories.' If large territories become scarce, orange-throats would suffer, and blue-throats, adapted to smaller territories, would gain an advantage.