Why are the snakes on the island mostly banded?
What are possible alternative hypotheses to explain why the snakes on the island are mostly banded?
Select all that apply:
A. The environments on the mainland and island are different, and banded snakes are favored on the mainland.
B. There is a predator on the island that preferentially preys on solid snakes.
C. Only a small number of banded snakes from the mainland colonized the island.
D. Each and every one of these is correct.
Answer:
The possible alternative hypotheses to explain why the snakes on the island are mostly banded are: A and C.
The potential alternate hypotheses based on Migration-Selection Equilibrium are options A and C.
Option A: On the island, there is a predator who prefers to prey on solid snakes. This is a potential alternative explanation since solid colors might be "non-cryptic" and prey on predators. Solid quality could be deadly on an island.
Option B: The environments on the mainland and the island are different, with the mainland favoring banded snakes. This is untrue because the island is home to numerous and preferred banded snakes.
Option C: Only a small number of banded snakes from the mainland colonized the island. The opposite alternative theory states that a new population of numerous banded snakes was started by a small number of banded snakes that showed migration to island.
Option D: Each and every one of these is accurate.
Final answer: The possible alternative hypotheses to explain why the snakes on the island are mostly banded are: different environments on the mainland and island favoring banded snakes on the mainland, presence of a predator that preys on solid snakes on the island, and the island being colonized by a few banded snakes from the mainland.