Grass plants in a population range in height from 6 cm to 25 cm. The short plants receive little sunlight, and the tall plants are eaten by grazing animals. Which statement best describes the effect of natural selection on the grasses? A. Because average height grass plants are favored, stabilizing natural selection is occurring. B. Because average height grass plants are favored, disruptive natural selection is occurring. C. Because tall grass plants are favored by the animals that eat grass, directional natural selection is occurring. D. Because short and tall grass plants are favored, normal natural selection is occurring.

Question

Hadassah Harvey

Biology

15 April, 22:23

Grass plants in a population range in height from 6 cm to 25 cm. The short plants receive little sunlight, and the tall plants are eaten by grazing animals. Which statement best describes the effect of natural selection on the grasses? A. Because average height grass plants are favored, stabilizing natural selection is occurring. B. Because average height grass plants are favored, disruptive natural selection is occurring. C. Because tall grass plants are favored by the animals that eat grass, directional natural selection is occurring. D. Because short and tall grass plants are favored, normal natural selection is occurring.

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Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Chloe Humphrey · Answer 1

The correct answer is option A. "Because average height grass plants are favored, stabilizing natural selection is occurring".

Explanation:

Stabilizing selection is a type of natural selection where the environment and other external factors favor traits that are of medium conditions, and extreme traits are unfavored. In this example, grass plants that are short receive little sunlight and grass plants that are tall are eaten by grazing animals. Therefore, this example belong to stabilizing natural selection, where average height grass plants are favored.