In the wild, male house finches (Carpodus mexicanus) vary considerably in the amount of red pigmentation in their head and throat feathers, with colors ranging from pale yellow to bright red. These colors come from carotenoid pigments that are found in the birds' diets; no vertebrates are known to synthesize carotenoid pigments. Thus, the brighter red the male's feathers are, the more successful he has been at acquiring the red carotenoid pigment by his food-gathering efforts (all other factors being equal). During breeding season, one should expect female house finches to prefer to mate with males with the brightest red feathers. Which of the following is true of this situation?

Population evolution is the process by which gene frequencies change within a gene pool. Evolution is the theory that explains how populations of organisms change over time.  Evolution is a change in the inherited traits of a population over successive generations. It is not directed towards a goal, nor is it solely dependent on natural selection.  The theory of evolution explains the similarities and differences within life's organisms and processes. According to this theory, every organism shares a common ancestor.  The two major mechanisms that drive evolution are natural selection and... Show more

Population evolution is the process by which gene frequencies change within a gene pool. Evolution is the theory that explains how populations of organisms change over time. 

Evolution is a change in the inherited traits of a population over successive generations. It is not directed towards a goal, nor is it solely dependent on natural selection. 
The theory of evolution explains the similarities and differences within life's organisms and processes. According to this theory, every organism shares a common ancestor. 
The two major mechanisms that drive evolution are natural selection and genetic drift. 

Other mechanisms include:
Non-random mating
Allele (gene) flow
Mutation
Migration
Competition
Speciation 

Natural selection can only take place if there is variation, or differences, among individuals in a population. These differences must have some genetic basis. 
Genetic drift is the evolutionary mechanism that causes random fluctuation in allele frequencies across generations. 

It can be caused by:
Population bottlenecks: A sharp reduction in the size of a population
The founder effect: When a small portion of individuals leave a population 

Related Test: Basic Biology Practice Test: Darwin's Theories

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