Question 1

The probability of extinction via predation is NOT particularly high when

Accepted Answer

A)  predator and prey have coevolved over long periods of time. 
B)  prey populations are stressed by additional environmental factors. 
C)  predators are a new arrival to the prey's habitat. 
D)  the prey species is long lived and has a low birthrate. 
A)  predator and prey have coevolved over long periods of time. 
B)  prey populations are stressed by additional environmental factors. 
C)  predators are a new arrival to the prey's habitat. 
D)  the prey species is long lived and has a low birthrate. A

Question 2

Elevated levels of iridium are found in the geologic layer at the K-Pg boundary. Is this unusual?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes. Iridium is a common metal on Earth but rarely accumulates in a single layer. 
B)  No. Iridium is a rare element on Earth, but geological layers of iridium are not uncommon. 
C)  Yes. Iridium is a rare metal on Earth. 
D)  Yes. Composition differences between geological layers tend to equilibrate over time. 
A)  Yes. Iridium is a common metal on Earth but rarely accumulates in a single layer. 
B)  No. Iridium is a rare element on Earth, but geological layers of iridium are not uncommon. 
C)  Yes. Iridium is a rare metal on Earth. 
D)  Yes. Composition differences between geological layers tend to equilibrate over time. C

Question 3

Why was the near extinction of all ocean plankton in the Permian mass extinction so devastating to marine species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Plankton are the base of aquatic food chains. 
B)  Plankton provide oxygen for other aquatic species. 
C)  Without plankton sequestering carbon, an enhanced period of global warming caused ocean temperatures to increase. 
D)  The dead plankton smothered coral reefs, killing them, which was a critical loss of nursery habitat for most marine species. 
A)  Plankton are the base of aquatic food chains. 
B)  Plankton provide oxygen for other aquatic species. 
C)  Without plankton sequestering carbon, an enhanced period of global warming caused ocean temperatures to increase. 
D)  The dead plankton smothered coral reefs, killing them, which was a critical loss of nursery habitat for most marine species. A

Question 4

Explain how the figure suggests that extinction probability is independent of a taxon's age. Keep in mind that the y-axis is measured on a logarithmic scale.

Accepted Answer

The logarithmic plot suggests a straight

Question 5

The graph shows extinction rates for families of marine organisms during different periods of Earth's history. How many mass extinction events do scientists commonly infer from these data?

Accepted Answer

A)  2 
B)  13 
C)  5 
D)  3 
A)  2 
B)  13 
C)  5 
D)  3

Question 6

Based on the fossil record, it was estimated that coelacanths had become extinct in the late Cretaceous, approximately 66 million years ago. However, a live coelacanth was discovered off the coast of South Africa in 1938. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  forward smearing. 
B)  the Signor-Lipps effect. 
C)  radiocarbon dating. 
D)  the law of superposition. 
A)  forward smearing. 
B)  the Signor-Lipps effect. 
C)  radiocarbon dating. 
D)  the law of superposition.

Question 7

As a refuge manager for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, you have the difficult decision of selecting which refuges will be sold and put up for sale to be developed and which ones will be preserved. Selling refuge "A" will result in the loss of the Serpentes, the sale of refuge "B" will result in the loss of the Lacertoidae, and the sale of refuge "C" will result in the loss of the Tuataras. Based on phylogenetic history, you decide to save refuge "C" and have to explain to your supervisor why. Which statement best explains your decision?

Accepted Answer

A)  Saving refuge "C" saves the greatest number of species in the phylogeny. 
B)  Saving refuge "C" saves the last two remaining species of tuataras, Sphendon punctatus and Sphendon gunther. 
C)  Saving refuge "C" saves the group with the deepest, oldest phylogenetic history. 
D)  Saving refuge "C" saves the greatest geographic area and is therefore likely to preserve all the groups on this phylogeny. 
A)  Saving refuge "C" saves the greatest number of species in the phylogeny. 
B)  Saving refuge "C" saves the last two remaining species of tuataras, Sphendon punctatus and Sphendon gunther. 
C)  Saving refuge "C" saves the group with the deepest, oldest phylogenetic history. 
D)  Saving refuge "C" saves the greatest geographic area and is therefore likely to preserve all the groups on this phylogeny.

Question 8

A paleontologist collected fossils in the Grand Canyon and recorded the following data. $\begin{array} { | l | l | } 
\hline \text { Fossil ID } & \text { Depth from canyon rim } \
\hline \text { PCO3 } & 1,800 \mathrm {~m} \
\hline \text { B8B } & 75 \mathrm {~m} \
\hline \text { 22RD } & 1,757 \mathrm {~m} \
\hline \text { IT-O } & 757 \mathrm {~m} \
\hline \text { GH7 } & 293 \mathrm {~m} \
\hline
\end{array}$
The oldest fossil collected is ________ while the youngest fossil collected is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  B8B; PCO3 
B)  PCO3; B8B 
C)  22RD; B8B 
D)  IT-O; 22RD 
A)  B8B; PCO3 
B)  PCO3; B8B 
C)  22RD; B8B 
D)  IT-O; 22RD

Question 9

Extinction of a species means that

Accepted Answer

A)  all members of the species have died out and have left no descendants. 
B)  researchers are unable to find individuals of the species in nature. 
C)  members of the species are not reproducing. 
D)  the species has died out in part of its geographic range. 
A)  all members of the species have died out and have left no descendants. 
B)  researchers are unable to find individuals of the species in nature. 
C)  members of the species are not reproducing. 
D)  the species has died out in part of its geographic range.

Question 10

Explain how forward smearing can result in an incorrect estimate of an extinction event.

Accepted Answer

The incidence of shell deformities incre

Question 11

What two evolutionary processes result in an active trend of evolutionary change?

Accepted Answer

An active trend can occur when

Question 12

A native species of wildflower belonging to the Asteraceae family only lives in the floodplains of the Illinois River in Illinois; in other words, it is native to only this one area of habitat. This species is ________ to this geographic area.

Accepted Answer

A)  restricted 
B)  endemic 
C)  confined 
D)  limited 
A)  restricted 
B)  endemic 
C)  confined 
D)  limited

Question 13

In Chapter 5, one of the examples of evolution presented illustrated the changes in equine skull morphology that gradually led to the transformation of the ancestral species to a new equine species. What model of evolutionary change does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

A)  punctuated equilibrium 
B)  passive trend 
C)  phyletic gradualism 
D)  active trend 
A)  punctuated equilibrium 
B)  passive trend 
C)  phyletic gradualism 
D)  active trend

Question 14

The earliest Homo sapiens fossils are about 200,000 years old. Could you use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of fossils from that period? Briefly justify your answer.

Accepted Answer

No. The half-life of ¹⁴C is too

Question 15

A biologist studying salamanders in Great Smoky Mountain National Park observes that several of his salamander populations are experiencing extirpation. If he wanted to determine if the extinction of these populations was related to an infectious disease or whether it was due to competition, for what patterns would he look?

Accepted Answer

Disease-related extinction events usuall

Question 16

Leigh Van Valen (1973) tested the relationship between species longevity and extinction probability. Do these data support or reject the hypothesis that the longer a taxon has existed, the less likely it is to go extinct?

Accepted Answer

A)  These data would support the hypothesis; there is a strong correlation between the age of the taxa and the probability of extinction. 
B)  These data would reject the hypothesis; there is no relationship between age of the taxa and the probability of extinction. 
C)  These data are inconclusive; the pattern of the relationship between taxa longevity and probability of extinction is unclear. 
D)  These data indicate that the opposite of the hypothesis is true, that longer-lived taxa are much more likely to go extinct. 
A)  These data would support the hypothesis; there is a strong correlation between the age of the taxa and the probability of extinction. 
B)  These data would reject the hypothesis; there is no relationship between age of the taxa and the probability of extinction. 
C)  These data are inconclusive; the pattern of the relationship between taxa longevity and probability of extinction is unclear. 
D)  These data indicate that the opposite of the hypothesis is true, that longer-lived taxa are much more likely to go extinct.

Question 17

Which mass extinction led to the disappearance of the dinosaurs?

Accepted Answer

A)  K-Pg 
B)  Permian 
C)  Triassic 
D)  Devonian 
A)  K-Pg 
B)  Permian 
C)  Triassic 
D)  Devonian

Question 18

Which statement best describes how our views on extinction have changed over the past several hundred years?

Accepted Answer

A)  Our views have changed from denying that extinction ever took place to realizing that extinction occurs and Earth has experienced several mass extinction events. 
B)  Our views have changed from believing that extinctions never occurred to understanding that extinction does occur, but it is rare. 
C)  Our views have changed from believing that extinction never takes place to realizing that it only occurs sporadically, as evidenced by the mass extinction events in geologic history. 
D)  Our views have changed from believing that extinction never takes place to realizing extinction occurs at a constant rate across all taxa. 
A)  Our views have changed from denying that extinction ever took place to realizing that extinction occurs and Earth has experienced several mass extinction events. 
B)  Our views have changed from believing that extinctions never occurred to understanding that extinction does occur, but it is rare. 
C)  Our views have changed from believing that extinction never takes place to realizing that it only occurs sporadically, as evidenced by the mass extinction events in geologic history. 
D)  Our views have changed from believing that extinction never takes place to realizing extinction occurs at a constant rate across all taxa.

Question 19

Which of the following observations would be expected if an infectious disease were a contributor to amphibian decline?

Accepted Answer

A)  Amphibian decline occurs simultaneously at many points throughout the entire range of amphibian populations. 
B)  Amphibian decline correlates with habitat alteration. 
C)  When transplanted into declining populations, individuals from healthy populations show the same symptoms as individuals from declining populations. 
D)  Symptoms of individuals from declining populations cannot be cured by medication. 
A)  Amphibian decline occurs simultaneously at many points throughout the entire range of amphibian populations. 
B)  Amphibian decline correlates with habitat alteration. 
C)  When transplanted into declining populations, individuals from healthy populations show the same symptoms as individuals from declining populations. 
D)  Symptoms of individuals from declining populations cannot be cured by medication.

Question 20

Which figure illustrates phyletic gradualism and which figure illustrates punctuated equilibrium? How does the concept of evolutionary change differ between the two? A

B

Accepted Answer

In phyletic gradualism (Figure A), evolu

The probability of extinction via predation is NOT particularly high when

Elevated levels of iridium are found in the geologic layer at the K-Pg boundary. Is this unusual?

Why was the near extinction of all ocean plankton in the Permian mass extinction so devastating to marine species?

Explain how the figure suggests that extinction probability is independent of a taxon's age. Keep in mind that the y-axis is measured on a logarithmic scale.

The graph shows extinction rates for families of marine organisms during different periods of Earth's history. How many mass extinction events do scientists commonly infer from these data?

Based on the fossil record, it was estimated that coelacanths had become extinct in the late Cretaceous, approximately 66 million years ago. However, a live coelacanth was discovered off the coast of South Africa in 1938. This is an example of

A paleontologist collected fossils in the Grand Canyon and recorded the following data. Fossil ID Depth from canyon rim PCO3 1,800 B8B 75 22RD 1,757 IT-O 757 GH7 293 The oldest fossil collected is while the youngest fossil collected is .

Extinction of a species means that

Explain how forward smearing can result in an incorrect estimate of an extinction event.

What two evolutionary processes result in an active trend of evolutionary change?

A native species of wildflower belonging to the Asteraceae family only lives in the floodplains of the Illinois River in Illinois; in other words, it is native to only this one area of habitat. This species is ________ to this geographic area.

In Chapter 5, one of the examples of evolution presented illustrated the changes in equine skull morphology that gradually led to the transformation of the ancestral species to a new equine species. What model of evolutionary change does this illustrate?

The earliest Homo sapiens fossils are about 200,000 years old. Could you use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of fossils from that period? Briefly justify your answer.

Leigh Van Valen (1973) tested the relationship between species longevity and extinction probability. Do these data support or reject the hypothesis that the longer a taxon has existed, the less likely it is to go extinct?

Which mass extinction led to the disappearance of the dinosaurs?

Which statement best describes how our views on extinction have changed over the past several hundred years?

Which of the following observations would be expected if an infectious disease were a contributor to amphibian decline?

Which figure illustrates phyletic gradualism and which figure illustrates punctuated equilibrium? How does the concept of evolutionary change differ between the two? A B

An Overview of Evolutionary Biology

Early Evolutionary Ideas and Darwin S Insight

Natural Selection

Phylogeny and Evolutionary History

Inferring Phylogeny

Transmission Genetics and the Sources of Genetic Variation

The Genetics of Populations

Evolution in Finite Populations

Evolution at Multiple Loci

Genome Evolution

The Origin and Evolution of Early Life

Major Transitions

Evolution and Development

Species and Speciation

The Evolution of Sex

The Evolution of Sociality

Coevolution

Human Evolution

Evolution and Medicine

Filters

Exam 15: Extinction and Evolutionary Trends

The probability of extinction via predation is NOT particularly high when

Elevated levels of iridium are found in the geologic layer at the K-Pg boundary. Is this unusual?

Why was the near extinction of all ocean plankton in the Permian mass extinction so devastating to marine species?

Explain how the figure suggests that extinction probability is independent of a taxon's age. Keep in mind that the y-axis is measured on a logarithmic scale.

The graph shows extinction rates for families of marine organisms during different periods of Earth's history. How many mass extinction events do scientists commonly infer from these data?

Based on the fossil record, it was estimated that coelacanths had become extinct in the late Cretaceous, approximately 66 million years ago. However, a live coelacanth was discovered off the coast of South Africa in 1938. This is an example of

A paleontologist collected fossils in the Grand Canyon and recorded the following data. Fossil ID Depth from canyon rim PCO3 1,800 B8B 75 22RD 1,757 IT-O 757 GH7 293 The oldest fossil collected is ________ while the youngest fossil collected is ________.

Extinction of a species means that

Explain how forward smearing can result in an incorrect estimate of an extinction event.

What two evolutionary processes result in an active trend of evolutionary change?

A native species of wildflower belonging to the Asteraceae family only lives in the floodplains of the Illinois River in Illinois; in other words, it is native to only this one area of habitat. This species is ________ to this geographic area.

In Chapter 5, one of the examples of evolution presented illustrated the changes in equine skull morphology that gradually led to the transformation of the ancestral species to a new equine species. What model of evolutionary change does this illustrate?

The earliest Homo sapiens fossils are about 200,000 years old. Could you use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of fossils from that period? Briefly justify your answer.

Leigh Van Valen (1973) tested the relationship between species longevity and extinction probability. Do these data support or reject the hypothesis that the longer a taxon has existed, the less likely it is to go extinct?

Which mass extinction led to the disappearance of the dinosaurs?

Which statement best describes how our views on extinction have changed over the past several hundred years?

Which of the following observations would be expected if an infectious disease were a contributor to amphibian decline?

Which figure illustrates phyletic gradualism and which figure illustrates punctuated equilibrium? How does the concept of evolutionary change differ between the two? A B

An Overview of Evolutionary Biology

Early Evolutionary Ideas and Darwin S Insight

Natural Selection

Phylogeny and Evolutionary History

Inferring Phylogeny

Transmission Genetics and the Sources of Genetic Variation

The Genetics of Populations

Evolution in Finite Populations

Evolution at Multiple Loci

Genome Evolution

The Origin and Evolution of Early Life

Major Transitions

Evolution and Development

Species and Speciation

The Evolution of Sex

The Evolution of Sociality

Coevolution

Human Evolution

Evolution and Medicine

Filters

A paleontologist collected fossils in the Grand Canyon and recorded the following data. Fossil ID Depth from canyon rim PCO3 1,800 B8B 75 22RD 1,757 IT-O 757 GH7 293 The oldest fossil collected is while the youngest fossil collected is .