Deck 3: Evolutionary Change and Adaptation

Question 1

As humans move into an area, the habitat often becomes fragmented due to clearing of land to build homes and roads, while leaving small areas of natural habitat. For small species that cannot navigate long distances from one habitat fragment to the next, speciation will likely occur due to __________ barriers.

A) geographical
B) temporal
C) behavioral
D) geographical and temporal

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Among cats, there is great variation in color and length of coats from long-haired, orange and white Ragdolls and Persians to cats with little to no hair. These traits associated with fur type are examples of __________ traits.

A) acquired
B) inherited
C) evolutionary
D) genomic

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Hip dysplasia is a common ailment in large dog breeds including Rottweilers in the United States. One breeder decides to import several females from Germany where the disease is less common to mate with his male dogs. This introduction of new alleles into his dog population is an example of __________.

A) natural selection
B) adaptation
C) gene flow
D) dispersal

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Although there is a strong genetic component to hip dysplasia in dogs, new research suggests that environment also plays a role. Environmental factors that influence the development of hip dysplasia include such things as overweight condition, injury at a young age, or repetitive motion on the forming joint (e.g., jogging with a puppy under the age of one year). Based on this, which of the following is true about this disease?

A) This disease has evolved with the different dog populations.
B) This disease is both acquired and inherited.
C) This disease occurs due to mating individuals of different species.
D) This disease is a result of natural selection.

Question 5

The process of meiosis produces ____________________.

A) four cells that have unique allele combinations
B) two cells that are genetically identical
C) four cells with an unequal number of chromosomes
D) two cells that then undergo fertilization

Question 6

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). Within this community, which would be the fittest organisms?

A) The weeds with herbicide resistance because they survive when herbicides are sprayed.
B) The weeds without herbicide resistance because they are producing the most surviving offspring.
C) Any organism that reproduces is considered fit in the evolutionary sense.
D) If herbicide resistance arose due to a mutation, this species would be considered less fit.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of an inherited characteristic?

A) a suntan
B) weight gain
C) dimples
D) a mohawk hairstyle

Question 8

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). Resistance to herbicides has arisen in the population through the process of __________.

A) natural selection
B) mutation
C) evolution
D) fertilization

Question 9

Which process must occur after meiosis for successful production of offspring?

A) mutation
B) natural selection
C) gene flow
D) fertilization

Question 10

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). Assuming the gardener continues to spray the herbicide for five years, do you think the weed population will evolve?

A) Yes, there will be more individuals in the population with the herbicide-resistant allele.
B) No, there will be no change in the genetic composition of the population.
C) Yes, the population will have evolved because speciation will have occurred.
D) No, evolution cannot occur over such a short time period.

Question 11

Among cats, there is great variation in color and length of coats from long-haired, orange and white Ragdolls and Persians to cats with little to no hair. The different versions of genes that code for hair color and length are examples of __________.

A) alleles
B) meiosis
C) chromosomes
D) gene flow

Question 12

Which of the following lead(s) to genetic variation in sexually reproducing organisms?

A) the process of meiosis
B) the combination of male and female gametes during fertilization
C) mutations that occur during development
D) the process of meiosis and the combination of male and female gametes during fertilization

Question 13

Among eukaryotes, only animals undergo meiosis.

A) True, animals are the only group that sexually reproduces.
B) False, meiosis is associated with all eukaryotes regardless of whether they reproduce sexually or asexually.
C) False, meiosis occurs in all sexually reproducing eukaryotes.
D) True, plants and fungi reproduce via asexual reproduction.

Question 14

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). In a single individual, how might herbicide resistance occur?

A) natural selection
B) development of a mutation in a gene
C) evolution of a specific gene
D) sharing of alleles among individuals in a population

Question 15

Which of the following are required for evolution to occur?

A) genetic variability in a population
B) selection for adaptive traits
C) high level of individual fitness
D) sexual reproduction
E) genetic variability in a population and selection for adaptive traits

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of a phenotype?

A) a cat's genome
B) the color and length of a cat's fur
C) the alleles that a female passes on to her offspring
D) the DNA sequence of an allele
E) the DNA sequence of an allele and the alleles that a female passes on to her offspring

Question 17

All of the following lead to increased genetic variation in a population EXCEPT

A) migration.
B) dispersal.
C) asexual reproduction.
D) mutation.

Question 18

When breeding cats, what cellular process must take place in both males and females to ensure the correct number of chromosomes in the offspring?

A) genetic variation
B) meiosis
C) fertilization
D) gene flow

Question 19

Naked mole rats live in underground colonies and are very inbred; there is typically no interaction between different colonies or populations. However, every now and again, a "disperser morph" is produced, and this animal eventually leaves his birth colony and finds a different colony where he will likely mate with the queen. This is an example of

A) mutation.
B) gene flow.
C) evolution.
D) meiosis.

Question 20

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.

Question 21

The common garter snake is a predator of the rough-skinned newt. These newts produce a potent neurotoxin that is concentrated in their skin, but garter snakes have evolved resistance to this toxin. This is an example of __________.

A) natural selection
B) sexual selection
C) coevolution
D) natural selection and coevolution

Question 22

The islands of Hawaii lie approximately 3200 km from the nearest continent and so have been geographically isolated for most of their history. Nearly 800 species of fruit flies have been discovered on these islands, and molecular and anatomical data suggest that the vast majority of these species arose from a single ancestral species that colonized the Hawaiian Islands from eastern Asia. The divergence into multiple different species is an example of __________.

A) adaptive radiation
B) sexual selection
C) coevolution
D) migration

Question 23

A male pheasant performs a courtship display for a female pheasant from a different population. The female interprets the behavior as aggressive rather than amorous. This is an example of what type of reproductive isolation?

A) mechanical
B) temporal
C) geographical
D) behavioral

Question 24

The Irish elk was misnamed because it was neither exclusively Irish, nor was it an elk. The Irish elk is a giant extinct deer, the largest deer species ever, which stood up to 7 feet at the shoulder. In sexually mature males, the antlers spanned up to 12 feet and weighed 90 pounds. These large antlers were likely used in displays and ritual combat between males during the mating season. Although females preferred males with large antlers, these structures were also unwieldy and may have lead to decreased survivorship in males. Thus, this trait arose through the process of __________.

A) natural selection
B) sexual selection
C) mutation
D) gene flow

Question 25

The graph below represents the results of an experiment looking at mate preference in female black widowbirds. The researcher used three groups of male birds: one with artificially shortened tails, one with artificially lengthened tails, and the control group with unaltered tail lengths.

In the natural population of black widowbirds, there is some variation in tail length. Tail length is an inherited trait; the versions of this trait that result in different lengths are called __________.

A) genomes
B) adaptations
C) phenotypes
D) alleles

Question 26

In the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona, a species of spider is found in both the woodland areas around streams and in the desert shrub areas. In the woodland areas, these spiders are under constant threat of predation from birds. Because of this, they spend little time in the exposed portion of their sheet webs. However, in the desert areas where birds are less of a threat, spiders constantly forage in the exposed portion of their webs. Offspring of matings between spiders from woodland and desert regions behave more like spiders from the desert habitat, even if they are living in the woodland area. The offspring quickly fall prey to birds, often before they have had a chance to reproduce. Over time, two different species arise. Was this a pre-mating or post-mating barrier?

A) pre-mating barrier, because individuals do not mate
B) post-mating barrier, because hybrids are produced but they do not reproduce
C) pre-mating barrier, because fertilization occurs but the hybrids are not viable
D) post-mating barrier, because hybrids are sterile and unable to mate

Question 27

Imagine that in one portion of their range, black widowbird numbers are declining due to the introduction of a non-native snake that eats their eggs and nestlings. The last two remaining females from the region with the introduced snakes disperse and join another group of widowbirds that are nesting 50 km away. There they find new mates and produce offspring. This group of birds would be considered a(n) __________.

A) population
B) ecosystem
C) community
D) niche

Question 28

Which of the following is true about dogs?

A) They all belong to the same species.
B) The different breeds or races have arisen due to speciation.
C) There are many different breeds and species.
D) They are phenotypically similar despite belonging to different species.

Question 29

In the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona, a species of spider is found in both the woodland areas around streams and in the desert shrub areas. In the woodland areas, these spiders are under constant threat of predation from birds. Because of this, they spend little time in the exposed portion of their sheet webs. However, in the desert areas where birds are less of a threat, spiders constantly forage in the exposed portion of their webs. Offspring of matings between spiders from woodland and desert regions behave more like spiders from the desert habitat, even if they are living in the woodland area. The offspring quickly fall prey to birds, often before they have had a chance to reproduce. Over time, two different species arise. What type of reproductive barrier led to this speciation event?

A) reproductive
B) geographical
C) temporal
D) mechanical

Question 30

In Chapter 2, you learned about beneficial bacteria that live on our skin and lower the pH, which in turn keeps other disease-causing bacteria in check. This relationship between beneficial bacteria and their human hosts is an example of __________.

A) coevolution
B) adaptive radiation
C) sexual selection
D) mutation

Question 31

Typically, flower color and shape are associated with what type of selective pressures?

A) natural selection
B) mutation
C) sexual selection
D) evolution

Question 32

The common garter snake is a predator of the rough-skinned newt. These newts produce a potent neurotoxin that is concentrated in their skin, but garter snakes have evolved resistance to this toxin. The production of toxin by the rough-skinned newts, which deters many predators, is an example of __________.

A) an adaptation
B) adaptive radiation
C) sexual selection
D) coevolution

Question 33

The graph below represents the results of an experiment looking at mate preference in female black widowbirds. The researcher used three groups of male birds: one with artificially shortened tails, one with artificially lengthened tails, and the control group with unaltered tail lengths.

Although females prefer males with the longest tails, very long tails are typically not found among males in their natural environment. Why might this be the case?

A) Male birds with very long tails are easily captured and eaten by predators, so they do not survive to reproduce.
B) Male birds prefer having shorter tails.
C) Mutations have kept tail lengths from increasing.
D) There is no advantage to having increased tail length in the natural environment.

Question 34

The graph below represents the results of an experiment looking at mate preference in female black widowbirds. The researcher used three groups of male birds: one with artificially shortened tails, one with artificially lengthened tails, and the control group with unaltered tail lengths.

What type of selection is likely demonstrated in this experiment?

A) natural selection
B) sexual selection

Question 35

Imagine that in one portion of their range, black widowbird numbers are declining due to the introduction of a non-native snake that eats their eggs and nestlings. If all the individuals in the threatened population die, this would be described as __________.

A) extinction
B) local extinction
C) mass extinction
D) adaptation

Question 36

Imagine that in one portion of their range, black widowbird numbers are declining due to the introduction of a non-native snake that eats their eggs and nestlings. The last two remaining females in this population disperse to join a different population that is 50 km away. Breeding with males in this new population would introduce new genes and is an example of __________.

A) alleles
B) gene flow
C) meiosis
D) adaptive radiation

Question 37

The common garter snake is a predator of the rough-skinned newt. These newts produce a potent neurotoxin that is concentrated in their skin, but garter snakes have evolved resistance to this toxin. Over the years, the neurotoxin has become more toxic. How might the toxin have changed over time?

A) mutation
B) gene flow
C) adaptive radiation
D) sexual selection

Question 38

This figure shows the happy face spider found in Hawaii. Despite their variation, these individuals can interbreed. Has adaptive radiation occurred?

A) No, if they can interbreed, they are all the same species.
B) Yes, because they can interbreed, they are all the same species, just with different phenotypes.
C) Yes, their variation is a result of genetic differences.
D) No, there is no variation in their alleles.

Question 39

The graph below represents the results of an experiment looking at mate preference in female black widowbirds. The researcher used three groups of male birds: one with artificially shortened tails, one with artificially lengthened tails, and the control group with unaltered tail lengths.

Black widowbirds can be described as medium-sized birds with orange and white shoulders and showy tail feathers. This is __________.

A) their phenotype
B) a description of their adaptations
C) their genome
D) an example of their alleles

Question 40

Imagine that in one portion of their range, black widowbird numbers are declining due to the introduction of a non-native snake that eats their eggs and nestlings. The last two remaining females in this population disperse to join a different population that is 50 km away, where they breed with new males. If these females produce only sterile offspring as the result of mating with males in the new population, what type of reproductive isolation does this represent?

A) post-mating barrier
B) pre-mating barrier
C) temporal barrier
D) behavioral barrier

Question 41

Imagine that in one portion of their range, black widowbird numbers are declining due to the introduction of a non-native snake that eats their eggs and nestlings. Prior to mating, a male widowbird produces sperm cells through the process of __________. When the sperm fuses with an egg cell, __________ has occurred.

A) meiosis; fertilization
B) fertilization; meiosis
C) sexual selection; meiosis
D) fertilization; mutation

Question 42

Imagine that in one portion of their range, black widowbird numbers are declining due to the introduction of a non-native snake that eats their eggs and nestlings. Because birds such as the black widowbird eat fruit and insects, they are considered to be __________.

A) autotrophs
B) heterotrophs
C) producers
D) decomposers

Question 43

Imagine that in one portion of their range, black widowbird numbers are declining due to the introduction of a non-native snake that eats their eggs and nestlings. In the summer, temperatures in the native range for black widowbirds are exceedingly hot. To cool themselves, the birds undergo a type of panting known as gular fluttering. This leads to evaporative water loss that cools the birds. This cooling is essential for __________.

A) meiosis
B) adaptive radiation
C) homeostasis
D) heterotrophy