Question

different species of picture - winged fruit flies in the hawaiian islands are genetically similar to each other, yet genetically different from their ancestral population in asia. this is probably an example of ______ multiple choice disruptive selection. gene flow. sexual selection. directional selection. founder effect

Explanation:

The scenario describes a small ancestral population colonizing a new area (Hawaiian Islands), leading to new populations that are genetically similar to each other but distinct from the original large population. This matches the founder effect, where a new population is established by a small subset of the original population, causing genetic divergence due to reduced genetic variation. Other options do not fit: disruptive selection favors extreme traits, gene flow involves genetic exchange between populations, sexual selection is based on mating success, and directional selection shifts traits toward one extreme.

Answer:

founder effect