Isolated Island Bird Evolution

Very Hard Biology Evolution

In an evolutionary biology study, researchers examined a population of birds on a remote island, which has been isolated for thousands of years. The study found that compared to their mainland relatives, these island birds exhibited significant differences in beak size, feather coloration, and mating calls. Given the principles of natural selection and speciation, which of the following statements best explains the observed differences between the island and mainland bird populations?

The island birds evolved their traits due to the absence of competition from other bird species.

The differences are a result of genetic drift acting more strongly on the smaller island population.

The island birds adapted to specific ecological niches that differ from those on the mainland.

The island and mainland birds are identical and simply exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to their environments.

Hint

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