Question

directions: use the data provided to solve the problem below. any calculations or models you use to support your thinking must be explained. problem: in 1983, a new housing development was constructed in a forested region that provides habitat for timber rattlesnakes. the construction of the buildings and associated major roads resulted in a small patch of forest becoming physically disconnected from the remaining forest. heavily trafficked roads and highways created barriers to movement for timber rattlesnakes because snakes cross roads slowly and are frequently killed by cars. every five years between 1985 and 2020, a researcher measured the frequency of an allele that is unrelated to fitness in timber rattlesnakes. the researcher took samples from the isolated forest patch and from the larger forest that the sample path was previously connected to. the allele frequencies were compared to the frequency of the mutant allele measured in the forest in 1980 before the construction of the housing development. their data is plotted in the figure below. 1. is the isolated forest patch in hardy - weinberg equilibrium? explain.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Hardy - Weinberg conditions

Hardy - Weinberg equilibrium requires no mutation, no migration, large population size, random mating, and no natural selection.

Step2: Analyze the isolated forest patch

The isolated forest patch has a physical barrier (roads) which restricts migration of timber rattlesnakes. Also, the population is likely small due to isolation. These factors violate the Hardy - Weinberg conditions.

Step3: Check allele frequency changes

The allele frequency in the isolated forest patch shows a non - stable trend over time (it changes from 1980 to 2020), which is not consistent with Hardy - Weinberg equilibrium where allele frequencies should remain constant in the absence of evolutionary forces.

Answer:

No, the isolated forest patch is not in Hardy - Weinberg equilibrium. The physical isolation due to roads restricts migration, likely leads to a small population size, and the allele frequencies change over time, all of which violate the conditions for Hardy - Weinberg equilibrium.