Question

all of these are examples of random evolutionary processes except
a.
an earthquake divides a single elk species into two populations, forcing
them to no longer interbreed.

b.
a mutation in a flower plant results in a new variety.

c.
an especially long winter causes a group of migrating birds to shift their
home range.

d.
a mutation results in a population of trees that spread their seeds more
widely than their peers, causing their population to grow.

Explanation:

Random evolutionary processes (like genetic drift, mutation, gene flow due to random events) are non - adaptive or occur by chance. Let's analyze each option:

• Option A: The earthquake dividing the elk population (geographic isolation) is a random event (genetic drift via founder effect or bottleneck - like in this case, isolation).
• Option B: Mutation is a random change in DNA, so this is a random evolutionary process.
• Option C: A long winter causing birds to shift range is a random environmental event leading to gene flow or range shift (random process).
• Option D: The mutation here leads to a trait (wider seed spread) that gives a reproductive/adaptive advantage, so this is natural selection (a non - random process as it's based on fitness advantage), not a random evolutionary process.

Answer:

D. a mutation results in a population of trees that spread their seeds more widely than their peers, causing their population to grow.