Question 1

A large population of animals is split in two by a physical barrier.Over time,the genetic makeup of the two resulting populations becomes more and more different until each population becomes a separate species.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A) sympatric speciation. 
B) allopatric speciation. 
C) genetic drift. 
D) natural selection.

Question 2

Speciation

Accepted Answer

A) can result from geographic isolation. 
B) occurs in the absence of genetic divergence. 
C) occurs only in species living on remote islands. 
D) reduces variation.

Question 3

Two populations of lizards live in the same area.Which of the following evidence would convince you that they are two distinct species?

Accepted Answer

A) Individuals in one population display a different color pattern than individuals in the second population. 
B) Individuals in one population are noticeably larger than individuals in the second population. 
C) The two populations are not capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. 
D) The two populations are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile hybrid offspring.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT an example of speciation?

Accepted Answer

A) two populations of sea urchins in the same territory,which are physically unable to mate 
B) two populations of small rodents that look similar but have genetic differences 
C) two populations of morphologically distinct lizards that lack differences in DNA sequences 
D) two populations of butterflies that live in the same area but breed in different seasons

Question 5

For which of the following would a mountain range most likely represent a geographic barrier that would block gene flow?

Accepted Answer

A) birds 
B) deer 
C) mice 
D) butterflies

Question 6

Which of the following statements best explains the role of coevolution in speciation?

Accepted Answer

A) Coevolution leads to two species that are perfectly adapted to exist together. 
B) Coevolution may lead to benefits for both of the species involved. 
C) Coevolution only occurs in species like corals and sea urchins that live in marine environments. 
D) Coevolution always benefits one species and harms another species.

Question 7

Match each numbered statement to one of terms listed below.
-an organism's physical characteristics

Accepted Answer

A) coevolution 
B) biological species concept 
C) morphological species concept 
D) speciation 
E) morphology
F)adaptation

Question 8

Close ecological interactions between two different species may lead to

Accepted Answer

A) allopatric speciation. 
B) sympatric speciation. 
C) coevolution. 
D) geographic isolation.

Question 9

Some species of orchids attract wasps to assist them in reproduction by producing flowers that look like female wasps.The flowers fool male wasps into attempting to mate with them.As a result,the wasp is covered with pollen that it takes with it to the next flower it attempts to mate with.This example shows adaptive evolution by

Accepted Answer

A) the orchids. 
B) the wasps. 
C) all flowering plants. 
D) ancestral wasps.

Question 10

Which of the following does NOT provide an example of geographic isolation?

Accepted Answer

A) Two populations live in two valleys on opposite sides of a mountain range. 
B) Two populations live on different mountains with a valley between them. 
C) Two populations live on opposite sides of a river. 
D) Two populations live in different parts of a small lake.

Question 11

Every year,environmental signals in Africa cause flycatchers to return to the Netherlands to breed.When they arrive,they depend on freshly hatched caterpillars for food.Global climate change has caused the caterpillars to hatch earlier in the Netherlands,but the environmental cues in Africa remain the same.Now,when the flycatchers return to the Netherlands the caterpillars are no longer available as a food source.Which of the following is most likely to happen to this species of flycatcher?

Accepted Answer

A) Flycatchers may learn that caterpillars are hatching earlier and will begin flying to the Netherlands earlier. 
B) Flycatchers will adapt to environmental change if alleles that aid flycatchers in utilizing other food sources (besides caterpillars)are present. 
C) Flycatchers will not adapt to environmental change because bird species are unable to utilize new food sources. 
D) Flycatchers will remain in the Netherlands instead of returning to Africa.

Question 12

When a brightly colored guppy population is placed in an area containing many predators,the population changes in only a few generations to one containing only guppies with drab,dull colors that blend into their environment.This is an example of how natural selection can

Accepted Answer

A) force new color mutations to occur. 
B) convert a dominant allele into a recessive allele. 
C) improve the match between guppies and their environment. 
D) change the color preferences of female guppies.

Question 13

Some freshwater snail eggs are accidentally introduced into a new habitat that is geographically isolated from the original population.Which of the following must occur before these snails are described as two separate species?

Accepted Answer

A) gene flow 
B) sympatric speciation 
C) adaptation 
D) genetic divergence

Question 14

Before the cultivation of the apple tree,apple maggot flies laid their eggs exclusively on the fruit of Hawthorne trees.As apple orchards became more prominent,apple maggot flies began to lay their eggs on both the fruit of the Hawthorne tree and the fruit of cultivated apple trees.Now,apple maggot flies that live on apple trees mate and lay their eggs at different times of the year than apple maggot flies that live on Hawthorne trees.Is this an example of reproductive isolation?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes;these two fly populations exhibit a postzygotic barrier that prevents hybrid individuals from developing properly. 
B) No;although these two fly populations do not mate in nature,they can be forced to mate in a laboratory because their DNA sequences are still the same. 
C) No;this is an example of speciation rather than reproductive isolation. 
D) Yes;these two fly populations exhibit a behavioral prezygotic barrier that prevents their gametes from encountering each other.

Question 15

The faster a cheetah can run,the more likely it is to capture its prey.Cheetahs with longer legs are able to run faster than those with shorter legs.Although the existing cheetah population shows a variety of leg lengths,cheetah legs are not continuing to increase in length from one generation to the next.Which of the following is a possible explanation?

Accepted Answer

A) The genes that are involved in cheetah leg length do not undergo mutation. 
B) Cheetahs with long legs are reproductively isolated from cheetahs with short legs. 
C) Natural selection does not act on traits involved in predation. 
D) Longer cheetah leg bones are more likely to break.

Question 16

For two populations to accumulate enough genetic differences to cause speciation,the factors that promote these differences

Accepted Answer

A) must operate in populations that are not physically separated. 
B) must have a greater effect than does the amount of ongoing gene flow. 
C) need to be combined with the forces of genetic drift. 
D) should include polyploidy.

Question 17

Genetic adaptations in two closely related species living within the same territory indicates that

Accepted Answer

A) gene flow is extensive between the two species. 
B) geographic isolation is required for evolution. 
C) allopatric speciation has occurred. 
D) sympatric speciation has occurred.

Question 18

The fossils of two adult birds are found in a nest containing several fossilized eggs.Physically,the bird fossils look very different.What are scientists most likely to use to classify these species?

Accepted Answer

A) the biological species concept 
B) the DNA-based species concept 
C) the morphological species concept 
D) the evidence of reproduction concept

Question 19

Match each numbered statement to one of terms listed below.
-process by which one species splits to form two species or more

Accepted Answer