Question

Scientists believe that the Hawaiian island chain as it currently exists was formed as sea-floor spreading caused the Earth's crust to slowly move over a stationary point of volcanic activity in the mantle of the Earth.
While above the area of activity, volcanic eruptions formed the islands, and as sea-floor spreading moved the newly formed island off the area of activity, other new islands formed leading to the seven islands that now exist. The largest island in the chain is the only one that is currently volcanically active, suggesting that it is still above the active region on the mantel.
If this is true, which of the following should be observed?

• A. Species on the largest island will be more closely related to those of more distant islands than to those of closer islands.
• B. The largest island will have an extensive fossil record.
• C. The largest island should have less biodiversity than the other islands.
• D. Evidence of adaptive radiation should be most observable on the oldest of the seven islands.

Answer 1

The correct option is C The largest island should have less biodiversity than the other islands.

The island that is volcanically active will not have organisms inhabiting the area, those that may inhabit will burnt or turned into ashes so, there are no chances of having a fossil record. However due to periodic volcanic activity the island will have reduced biodiversity

So, the correct answer is 'The largest island should have less biodiversity than the other islands'