Evolutionary Predictions: Hummingbird Bills and Flower Feeding

What evolutionary prediction is likely in a scenario where hummingbirds primarily feed on long-tubed flowers?

A) Hummingbird bills would become shorter over time

B) Hummingbird bills would become longer over time

C) Hummingbird bills would remain unchanged over time

D) Hummingbird bills would disappear over time

Answer:

In a scenario where hummingbirds primarily feed on long-tubed flowers, it is likely that hummingbird bills would become longer over time.

Evolutionary biology offers us insights into how species adapt and change over time. When considering the relationship between hummingbirds and long-tubed flowers, there are key evolutionary predictions to consider.

Hummingbirds with longer bills would have a competitive advantage in accessing nectar deep within long-tubed flowers, which are their primary food source. This advantageous trait would likely be passed on to future generations through natural selection, causing the average bill length among hummingbirds to increase over time.

Natural selection plays a pivotal role in shaping the traits of organisms based on their environment and feeding habits. In the case of hummingbirds feeding on long-tubed flowers, longer bills would provide a selective advantage, leading to the evolutionary prediction of bill length increasing over generations.