Question

Select conditions under which phenotypic plasticity would likely evolve.

a-A habitat has stable conditions over generations but experiences a sudden cataclysmic event.
b-One phenotype confers high levels of fitness across multiple types of environments.
c-A variable phenotype confers intermediate fitness in unpredictably variable environment.
d-Environmental conditions are variable and have fitness consequences across generations.

Answer 1

Phenotypic plasticity can evolve under conditions such as sudden cataclysmic events, variable phenotypes in unpredictable environments, and variable environmental conditions with fitness consequences across generations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Phenotypic plasticity can evolve under the following conditions:

1. A habitat has stable conditions over generations but experiences a sudden cataclysmic event:
   Under this condition, an organism with the ability to adapt to sudden changes in the environment would have a higher chance of survival and reproduction.
2. A variable phenotype confers intermediate fitness in an unpredictably variable environment:
   In this scenario, a variable phenotype allows individuals to adapt to different conditions, increasing their overall fitness.
3. Environmental conditions are variable and have fitness consequences across generations:
   When the environment is consistently changing, individuals with phenotypic plasticity are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their adaptable traits to future generations.