A Gardener Is Constantly Struggling with the Growth of Weeds

Multiple Choice

A gardener is constantly struggling with the growth of weeds in his perennial flower beds. At the start of the growing season one year, he sprays an herbicide to reduce the number of weeds. Although the herbicide kills many of the weeds, some develop resistance to the herbicide and continue to grow and spread among his flowering plants. After a few years, the gardener decides to stop all herbicide applications. One of the changes that he notices is that the weeds that have resistance to herbicides grow much more slowly and are easily outcompeted by other weeds when no pesticides are sprayed (i.e., the herbicide-susceptible weeds produce more seeds and quickly overtake some of the areas in the garden where the herbicide-resistant weeds had been growing) . Based on this information, is herbicide resistance an adaptation in this population?

A) Because it gives organisms an advantage in terms of survival and reproduction when herbicides are sprayed, it would be considered an adaptation.
B) Because plants that don't have herbicide resistance produce more offspring, it would not be considered an adaptation.
C) Selection pressures vary with the environment, so this trait would be considered an adaptation in certain environments.
D) Because this trait is only advantageous in certain environments, it would not be considered an adaptation.