Question

name: sa’nya williams
pd. 7th
reading nature- guppies cer
guiding question: what selective pressures might affect the persistence of traits over time?
claim:
selective pressures such as predation, resource availability , and sexual selection might affect the persistence of traits over time.
evidence:
this is a great space to put your answers to our discussion questions.

1. peppered moths. camouflage from predators.

black - bellied seedcracker birds. beak size matches food to access food efficiently.
papua new guinea male birds: bright feathers attract mates and
justification:
explain why you included the evidence that you did and how it supports your claim.

Explanation:

To complete the "Justification" section for the Guppies CER (Claim - Evidence - Reasoning) related to selective pressures affecting trait persistence over time, we analyze each piece of evidence and its connection to the claim:

1. Peppered moths: Camouflage from predators

• Explanation of Evidence - Claim Link: Predation is a selective pressure. Peppered moths with camouflage (a trait) are less likely to be eaten by predators. Over time, this trait persists because moths with better camouflage survive to reproduce, passing on the camouflage - related genes. So this evidence supports the claim that predation (a selective pressure) affects trait persistence.

2. Black - bellied seedcracker birds: Beak size matches food to access food efficiently

• Explanation of Evidence - Claim Link: Resource availability (availability of food) is a selective pressure. Birds with beak sizes that match the available food sources can access food more efficiently. These birds are more likely to survive and reproduce, so the trait of having a suitable beak size persists over time. This supports the claim that resource availability (a selective pressure) affects trait persistence.

3. Papua New Guinea male birds: Bright feathers attract mates

• Explanation of Evidence - Claim Link: Sexual selection is a selective pressure. Male birds with bright feathers are more likely to attract mates. Birds that attract mates are more likely to reproduce, passing on the genes for bright feathers. Thus, this evidence supports the claim that sexual selection (a selective pressure) affects trait persistence.

• For peppered moths, predation selects for camouflage (trait persistence as camouflaged moths survive to reproduce).
• For black - bellied seedcracker birds, resource availability (food) selects for beak size (trait persists as birds with suitable beaks survive/reproduce).
• For Papua New Guinea male birds, sexual selection (mate attraction) selects for bright feathers (trait persists as bright - feathered males reproduce). All evidence supports the claim that these selective pressures affect trait persistence.

Answer:

• Peppered moths: Predation is a selective pressure. Camouflaged moths avoid predators, survive, and reproduce, so the camouflage trait persists. This supports the claim that predation affects trait persistence.
• Black - bellied seedcracker birds: Resource availability (food) is a selective pressure. Birds with beak sizes matching food access food efficiently, survive, and reproduce, so the beak - size trait persists. This supports the claim that resource availability affects trait persistence.
• Papua New Guinea male birds: Sexual selection is a selective pressure. Males with bright feathers attract mates, reproduce, so the bright - feather trait persists. This supports the claim that sexual selection affects trait persistence.