Question

1. a species of moth has 2 varieties of wing color: brown and white. as winter approaches, the trees where the moths live lose their leaves. the moth’s predators are birds who hunt for the moths as they rest on the dark tree bark. every moth lays 100 eggs, but only about 10 from each egg cluster live to adulthood. which moth variety 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. The white - colored moths will be selected against because they are more visible on the dark tree bark and more likely to be preyed upon by birds.
2. The brown - colored trait is favorable as it provides camouflage on the dark tree bark, reducing the likelihood of being eaten by predators.
3. The variations in the population are the two wing - color varieties: brown and white.
4. The species overproduces by laying 100 eggs per moth, but only about 10 from each egg cluster survive to adulthood.
5. Over time, the proportion of brown - colored moths in the population is likely to increase as they have a higher survival rate, while the proportion of white - colored moths will decrease due to predation.

Answer:

1. White - colored moths will be selected against.
2. Brown - colored trait is favorable because it provides camouflage on dark tree bark.
3. Variations are brown and white wing colors.
4. Overproduces by laying 100 eggs per moth with only about 10 surviving to adulthood.
5. Proportion of brown - colored moths will increase and white - colored moths will decrease over time.