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Evidence of species change 1
Evidence of species change 2
Natural selection and adaptation 1
Natural selection and adaptation 2
Potluck
100
The front leg of an iguana and the wing of a bird look different, but both limbs likely originated from a similar limb in a shared ancestor. Structures such as these are said to be _______. A. differentiated B. vestigial C. heterogeneous D. homologous
What is D. homologous
100
Imagine an earthquake creates a chasm that separates a population of squirrels. Over time, the two populations of squirrels become separate species. What is the name of the process by which isolated populations of the same species become new species? A. reproductive isolation B. genetic variation C. speciation D. natural selection
What is C. speciation
100
In some cases, members of a population can become reproductively isolated from the rest of the population without being geographically isolated. In other words, speciation can still occur when members of a population are able to intermingle in the same area. What type of selection is most likely responsible for splitting a population into separate species within the same habitat? A. stabilizing selection B. artificial selection C. disruptive selection D. directional selection
What is C. disruptive selection
100
Allele frequency refers to the fraction of individuals with a particular version of a given gene. What effect does natural selection have on the allele frequency of a population? A. It greatly reduces the total population, which increases the effects of genetic drift on allele frequency. B. It causes random changes and the allele frequency of certain traits may increase or decrease. C. It causes the allele frequency to resemble that of a small number of individuals that became separated from the rest of the population. D. It increases the frequency of alleles that improve a species' survival in a particular environment.
What is D. It increases the frequency of alleles that improve a species' survival in a particular environment.
100
The study of embryological similarities and differences among species is called _______. A. investigative neurology B. developmental psychology C. comparative embryology D. cooperative anatomy
C. comparative embryology
200
After the last major ice age, sea levels around the world rose. As they did, the rising waters divided what was once a single island in the North Sea into two different islands. A population of rabbits was split between the two islands. Ten thousand years passed with no contact between the two rabbit groups. In recent times, a scientist attempted to breed individuals from the two groups, but he was unsuccessful in doing so. Why were rabbits from the two groups unable to produce offspring together? A. The groups were not able to recognize each other. B. The groups had become two separate species. C. The groups belonged to different breeds of the same rabbit species. D. The groups were adapted to very different climates.
What is B. The groups had become two separate species.
200
Speciation is the process by which new species are formed. Which of the following circumstances is most likely to lead to speciation? A. A population reproduces beyond the carrying capacity of the ecosystem in which the population lives. B. A population is unable to compete with other species and becomes extinct. C. A population becomes separated by environmental factors into two groups that do not reproduce with one another. D. A population begins to develop sexual dimorphism between the males and females of the species.
What is C. A population becomes separated by environmental factors into two groups that do not reproduce with one another.
200
Over time, color variation in a population of butterflies declined. The number of color variations within the population was twelve in 1985. In 2005, the number of color variations reduced to three. What type of selection is responsible for reducing variation? A. artificial selection B. disruptive selection C. directional selection D. stabilizing selection
What is D. stabilizing selection
200
Peppered moths use the adaptation of camouflage as protection from predators. They may have a variety of colors or shades, but before the Industrial Revolution, they were typically white with black speckles. The Industrial Revolution in the 1880s introduced large-scale pollution into the environment. The pollution resulted in widespread, dark-colored staining of buildings and trees. Which of the following was the most likely effect of the Industrial Revolution on peppered moths in cities? A. The peppered moths adapted an improved sense of sight and smell. B. The peppered moths developed a tolerance to smog and chemical waste. C. Over time, the white, speckled moths were outnumbered by plain white moths. D. The population of light-colored moths decreased and the population of dark-colored moths increased.
What is D. The population of light-colored moths decreased and the population of dark-colored moths increased.
200
Speciation is the process by which new species A. are discovered. B. interbreed with another species. C. are formed. D. die out.
What is C. are formed.
300
What does it mean to say that two different species of organisms are closely related? A. They live in the same habitat. B. They have the same preferences in diet. C. They have the same parents. D. They have a common ancestor.
What is D. They have a common ancestor.
300
Nearly all mammals have seven cervical (neck) vertebrae. This fact implies that A. predators prefer to eat animals with either six or eight cervical vertebrae. B. all mammals have to stretch their necks to obtain food. C. all animals can turn their heads the same amount. D. all mammals descended from a common ancestor.
What is D. all mammals descended from a common ancestor.
300
An individual hydra is swept by an ocean current to an area of the ocean where no other hydras reside. The hydra asexually reproduces, as does its offspring, until there is a population of genetically identical hydra. Is it possible for this population to undergo natural selection? A. Yes, the population will undergo changes in order to become better adapted to the new environment. B. No, there is no genetic variation upon which natural selection can operate. C. Yes, all populations are capable of undergoing natural selection. D. No, natural selection does not occur in organisms that reproduce asexually.
What is B. No, there is no genetic variation upon which natural selection can operate.
300
Some organisms have favorable traits that are well-suited to the environment in which they live. Organisms with this advantage are more likely to thrive, reproduce, and pass their traits to future generations than organisms without favorable traits. A. This process is known as mimicry. B. geographic isolation. C. natural selection. D. reproductive isolation.
What is C. natural selection.
300
Even though the ostrich is a flightless bird, ostriches still possess wings that stretch approximately two meters across when fully extended. Scientists speculate that when dinosaurs became extinct, some of the birds that lived during that time became land dwellers since they were able to consume the food that the dinosaurs once ate. Over time, these species grew larger and heavier. Eventually, the ostrich species became too big to fly. The wings found on ostriches are known as A. symmetrical structures. B. vestigial structures. C. analogous structures. D. homologous structures.
What is B. vestigial structures.
400
A population of mammals originally lived in a certain area surrounded by land. Then, some of the organisms were taken to an island. These two populations remained separated for hundreds of years. Which of the following is most likely true of the organisms within the populations? A. The organisms on the island are completely different than those on the mainland. B. The organisms on the island are slightly different than those on the mainland. C. The organisms on the island are exactly the same as those on the mainland. D. The organisms on the island are no longer a mammalian species like those on the mainland.
What is B. The organisms on the island are slightly different than those on the mainland.
400
Which of the following is the most likely consequence of a group of living organisms being unable to adapt to changing conditions in their environment? A. speciation B. extinction C. mutation D. biodiversity
What is B. extinction
400
All species have a certain amount of genetic diversity within their populations. How is genetic diversity important to the concept of natural selection? A. Genetic diversity decreases the generation time of species, which contributes to rapid natural selection. B. Without genetic diversity, natural selection cannot occur. C. The more genetic diversity a species has, the less likely it is that natural selection will occur. D. Genetic diversity controls the speed at which natural selection is able to occur.
What is B. Without genetic diversity, natural selection cannot occur.
400
Natural selection causes gradual changes in _______. A. an individual B. an environment C. acquired traits D. a population
What is D. a population
400
A scientist is studying the structural adaptations that occurred in a particular horse species over time. For several generations, the horses tended to have smaller teeth and longer toes. Then, there was a shift in the fossil record, and the horses tended to have larger teeth and shorter toes. What is the most likely cause for this shift in the horses' anatomy? A. The horse species traveled to a new ecosystem in a different geographical location. B. The horses began to eat meat instead of plants. C. The environment remained stable and constant throughout the existence of the horse species. D. The environment became overpopulated with horses of varying species.
What is A. The horse species traveled to a new ecosystem in a different geographical location.
500
In which of the following situations can speciation occur? A. When a population becomes extinct. B. When two populations merge to become one population. C. When the members of a population interbreed. D. When two populations are reproductively isolated.
What is D. When two populations are reproductively isolated.
500
Why is it useful for scientists to look at embryonic structures when determining the degree of relatedness between two different species? A. Sometimes there are similarities in the embryonic stages of organisms that don't exist in the adult stages. B. Examining embryonic stages allows scientists to better understand the behaviors of organisms. C. Adult organisms never possess similar anatomical structures. D. Organisms from different kingdoms always have similar embryonic structures.
What is A. Sometimes there are similarities in the embryonic stages of organisms that don't exist in the adult stages.
500
There is a large amount of biodiversity throughout the world. According to the theory of natural selection, which of the following factors is primarily responsible for biodiversity? A. environmental diversity B. deforestation C. selective breeding D. invasive species
What is A. environmental diversity
500
A particular environment has enough food to support 50 rats through the winter. At the end of winter one year, there are 25 female rats and 25 male rats. Each of the 25 females gives birth to several litters of 3-6 pups each. In the fall, there are 300 rats. Ignoring the effects of predators and disease, what will happen to this population of rats between fall and the next spring? A. Fifty rats will die of old age, and 200 others will starve to death, leaving 50 to reproduce next spring. B. The fifty strongest rats will kill or drive off the others, then reproduce next spring. C. The fifty rats best able to get and keep food will survive to reproduce next spring. D. The rats will thrive because they have already reproduced successfully.
What is C. The fifty rats best able to get and keep food will survive to reproduce next spring.
500
Rabbits use camouflage as a way to hide from predators. A population of rabbits ranging in color from brown to white lives in a forest ecosystem where much of the soil and vegetation is brown. However, a recent climate change has resulted in most of the forest floor being covered in snow. Which of the following will most likely occur? A. The white rabbits will begin to hunt the brown rabbits. B. The brown rabbits will gain an advantage over white rabbits. C. The brown rabbits will begin to hunt the white rabbits. D. The white rabbits will gain an advantage over brown rabbits.
What is D. The white rabbits will gain an advantage over brown