Exam 4: The Tree of Life: How Biologists Use Phylogeny to Reconstruct the Deep Past

Trap jaw ants have modified mandibles that function like a bear trap-when a potential prey item triggers the jaw, it snaps shut with amazing speed (up to 145 mph). The groups highlighted in the phylogeny below include species that have evolved trap jaws. With reference to this tree it appears that

Given the tree below, which of the following statements is correct? ​

What does Archaeopteryx share with dinosaurs that modern birds lack?

Only a few species of garter snakes (Thamnophis atratus, Th. couchii, and Th. sirtalis) have evolved the ability to tolerate a toxin produced by newts called tetrodotoxin (TTX). The phylogeny below shows how these three species are related. Referring specifically to Th. couchii and Th. sirtalis, tolerance to TTX is an example of a ______ caused by _______.

Explain how the discovery of fossil F in (B) constrains the timing of the phylogeny in (A). Compare the timing of the phylogeny in (B) to those in (C) and (D).

Which of the following is true of the most recent common ancestor of two currently living species?

Describe the evolution of the mammalian middle ear and hypothesize on the selective pressures that may have driven its change.

How long ago did the common ancestor of living mammals diverge from other synapsids?

Given the following tree, which tree below is incorrect? ​ ​

Explain the difference between phylogeny and taxonomy. Be sure to differentiate between monophyletic, paraphyetic and polyphyletic groups in your answer.

In the tree below, assume that the ancestor was an herb (not a tree) without leaves or seeds. Given this, the evolution of a tree habit in Lepidodendron, oak, and yew

Which of the following is a shared ancestral trait that platypuses share with other mammals?

The phylogeny below shows relationships between birds and four different dinosaur genera. Based on the logic of phylogenetic systematics, which of the following statement(s) is/are accurate?

Considering the logic of phylogenetic systematics, which of the following statements is/are true?

You are using maximum parsimony to determine the relationships among six species (A, B, C, D, E, and F). You examine eight different traits for the six species and an outgroup. Below you will find the data matrix. Trait Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 B 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 C 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 D 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 E 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 (a) Which traits are not useful for distinguishing relationships among species A, B, C, D, E, and F? (b) Given below are two possible tree topologies for these species. Based on the principle of maximum parsimony, circle the tree that most likely represents the true relationships among these species. Please show your work (that is, map the traits with tick marks onto each tree, and beside each tick mark give the number of the trait). Please include all traits, even those you determined were not useful in part (a).

Which of the following correctly matches the extinct lobe-fin species with its morphological feature?

Comparing the two phylogenies below, we can conclude that

Given the tree below, the similar body shape of ichthyosaurs and dolphins is best described as

Explain the evolution of tetrapods; a complete answer should include reference to extant and extinct species.

Given the following tree, which tree below is incorrect? ​ ​