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:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Earthquake dividing elk populations (geographic isolation) is a random evolutionary process (genetic drift via bottleneck/founder effect).
• Option B: Mutation is a random process as mutations occur randomly in DNA.
• Option C: A long winter causing birds to shift range is a random environmental event leading to evolutionary change (e.g., new selection pressures or gene flow changes).
• Option D: The mutation leads to a trait (wider seed spread) that increases fitness (population growth), so this is natural selection, which is a non - random process as it favors traits that increase survival/reproduction.

Answer:

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