QUESTION 8
Pine trees that are too tall or too short do not do as well as pine trees that are average in height. The short trees do not get as much light as tall or average trees. The tall trees are more likely to break off in storms. Tell how this is an example of stabilizing selection. Be sure to define stabilizing selection in your answer.
Your response must be at least 75 words in length.
QUESTION 9
There is a moth in England called the peppered moth. Before Britain’s industrial revolution, these moths were usually salt and pepper colored. Because of their coloring, they blended in well with the tree trunks on which they tended to rest. The coloring helped them hide from the birds that ate them. During the British industrial revolution, industry expelled a lot of soot from the burning of coal into the environment. This soot darkened the tree trunks, and it was noted that black-colored moths were becoming predominant. The idea is that with soot in the environment, black-colored moths fared better than light-colored moths. There is some debate as to whether this is actually the case or not, but for the sake of this question, let’s assume it is.
In your own words, explain the concepts from the four observations discussed in 12.2 using the moth as an example. In other words, how does the moth illustrate the first observation, the second observation, etc.?
Your response must be at least 200 words in length.
QUESTION 10
Explain how homology is different from convergent evolution and give examples. Briefly define homology and convergent evolution in your explanation.