On the Galapagos Islands, two species of finches display a character displacement when they occur as sympatric species. Which of the statements correctly interprets the species over time when they are found sympatrically?

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The question asks about what the correct interpretation is for two finch species on the Galapagos when they occur as sympatric (on the same island) populations, with four answer choices to evaluate.
Option 1: 'Both species have the same size beaks when living on the same island.' In the presence of character displacement, one would expect the species to diverge in beak size to reduce competition, not remain the same. Therefore this statement mischaracterizes the expected outcome under sympatric interaction and niche partitioning.
Option 2: 'Both species merge into one species when living on the same island.' This would imply fusion or hybridization to the point of indistinguishability as separate species, which contradicts the concept of character displacement and the persistence of distinct sympatric species; thus it is incorrect.
Option 3: 'Both species display phenotypic plasticity when living on different islands.' This statement shifts focus away from sympatry to allopatry and suggests plastic responses across islands, which does not address the interaction between the two species when they coexist on the same island. It also misattributes plasticity as a general response to all island contexts rather than to sympatric competition.
Option 4: 'Each species displays phenotypic plasticity when living on the same island.' This option asserts that plastic responses occur within sympatric contexts, potentially as a mechanism by which individuals adjust traits in response to immediate ecological pressures. While character displacement emphasizes evolved differences, phenotypic plasticity can operate within populations facing similar selective pressures on the same island, and this statement aligns with the idea that plastic responses may manifest under sympatry before or alongside genetic divergence. Therefore, within the scope of the provided statements, this choice is the one that best fits the interpretation given by the question’s framing.
In summary, the other options propose outcomes (unchanged beak size, species merge, or allopatry-specific plasticity) that do not accurately reflect the sympatric interaction described, whereas option 4 centers on plastic responses occurring in sympatry, which is the chosen interpretation in this context.

Biol 1106 Rosenzweig Sp2025 CRN's11552 & 11553 Exam 4 Lessons 19-23 - Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

On the Galapagos Islands, two species of finches display a character displacement when they occur as sympatric species. Which of the statements correctly interprets the species over time when they are found sympatrically?

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Biol 1106 Rosenzweig Sp2025 CRN's11552 & 11553 Exam 4 Lessons 19-23 - Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

On the Galapagos Islands, two species of finches display a character displacement when they occur as sympatric species. Which of the statements correctly interprets the species over time when they are found sympatrically?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

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