Question

read the passage below. in hawaii, there is a species of beetles that has several variations of color, ranging from dark brown to light green, found within the population. recent volcanic activity in hawaii has begun to build up new land, separating the habitat where the beetles live. the population has now become separated, causing the two populations to be isolated and reproducing with one another. prior to all the eruptions, the edge of the forest, where most of the beetles found shelter, had a variety of rock colors and flowering plants. as a result of the lava erupting, one of the isolated populations of beetles now lives where the new rock that has formed from the volcano is very dark - colored with very little vegetation. part a which claim describes what will most likely occur to the isolated populations of beetles? b. only the population that has the best variations will evolve into a new species and the other population of beetles will go extinct. c. through mutations, the two isolated populations will most likely evolve through natural selection into separate species that will no longer be able to reproduce. a. both populations will most likely become extinct since they will no longer have the ability to pass a larger variety of traits to the next generation. d. the isolation will not affect either population of beetles since both populations have a variety of traits and the climate on the island is not changing.

Explanation:

When populations are isolated, they experience different selection pressures. Mutations can occur over time, and through natural - selection, the two isolated populations can evolve into separate species and eventually be unable to reproduce with each other. Option A is incorrect as there is no indication they will go extinct just from isolation. Option B is too extreme to say only one population will evolve into a new species and the other will go extinct. Option D is wrong because isolation can lead to evolutionary changes.

Answer:

C. Through mutations, the two isolated populations will most likely evolve through natural selection into separate species that will no longer be able to reproduce.