Question

1. storks are a species of bird that only has the time and energy to provide for one chick. storks lay two eggs. after the eggs hatch, the birds feed both chicks for a week. after a week’s time, the smaller chick is thrown out of the nest and left to fend for itself. from then, the parents focus their efforts only on the larger chick. which stork do you think will be selected against? which trait is favorable? why? what are the variations in this population? how does this species overproduce? how will this species change over time?

Explanation:

1. Which stork will be selected against? The smaller chick will be selected against as it is thrown out of the nest and has to fend for itself, facing higher risks of not surviving.
2. Which trait is favorable? Why? A larger - size trait in chicks is favorable. Since parents focus on the larger chick after a week, the larger chick has a better chance of survival and getting parental care, which increases its likelihood of reaching maturity and reproducing.
3. What are the variations in this population? The variations are in the size of the chicks. After hatching, there are differences in size between the two chicks, with one being smaller and the other larger.
4. How does this species overproduce? Storks lay two eggs but can only effectively care for one chick. This is overproduction as more offspring are produced than can be supported by the parents' resources.
5. How will this species change over time? Over time, the genes associated with larger - size in chicks may become more prevalent in the population. Since larger chicks have a higher survival rate and reproductive success, natural selection will favor these traits, potentially leading to an increase in the average size of chicks in the stork population.

Answer:

1. The smaller chick.
2. Larger - size trait in chicks; because it increases survival and access to parental care.
3. Size differences between chicks.
4. Laying two eggs while only being able to care for one.
5. Genes for larger - size in chicks may become more prevalent.