30 Questions
What is the primary mechanism that drives the evolution of species according to Darwin?
Natural selection
What is the role of the environment in the process of natural selection?
Filtering changes and variations in traits
What is the result of changes in the genetic code of an organism?
A change in the characteristics and traits of the organism
What is the definition of evolution?
Any change in the inheritable traits within a population across generations
Why do organisms possessing adaptive characteristics have a better chance to survive and reproduce?
Because they are better suited to their environment
What is the result of favored traits being expressed in a population?
Unfavored traits becoming less common
What was one of the themes stressed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in his work on organic evolution?
The adaptation of animals to environmental changes
What did Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution build upon?
Lamarck’s ideas on the relationship of environment and evolution
What is the primary purpose of the Linnaean classification system?
To provide a universal naming system for organisms
What was one of the key factors that made it probable for the 'organic movement' in animals, according to Lamarck?
The movement of bodies and their different parts
What is one of the key differences between Lamarck’s and Darwin’s theories of evolution?
Lamarck stressed the role of environment, while Darwin stressed natural selection
What is the primary characteristic used to identify species according to the morphological species concept?
Measurable phenotypic traits
What is the process by which a single species rapidly diversifies into new forms in response to changes in the environment?
Adaptive radiation
What is the main reason why Darwin’s theory of evolution was groundbreaking?
It challenged the theory of special creation
What is one of the key implications of understanding biodiversity and evolution?
It helps in understanding the structure and function of ecosystems
What is the lowest taxonomic rank in the biological classification of living things?
Species
What is the primary characteristic used to identify species according to the biological species concept?
Ability to interbreed
What is the primary characteristic used to identify species according to the polygenic species concept?
Unique genetic history
What is the primary function of decomposers in an ecosystem?
To break down dead organic matter
What is the term used to describe the position an organism occupies in a food chain?
Trophic level
What type of consumer is a grasshopper that feeds on leaves from a cornstalk?
Primary consumer
What is the main characteristic of a secondary consumer in a food chain?
Feeds on primary consumers
What type of organism is a maya bird that feeds on a grasshopper?
Secondary consumer
What determines the trophic level of a scavenger in a food chain?
What it consumes
What is the primary driver of the formation of new species, according to the gradualism model?
Gradual accumulation of adaptations to the environment over time
What occurs in periods of punctuated equilibrium, according to the theory?
Long periods of little change, followed by rapid changes through mutations
What is the term for changes in the DNA that can be passed on to succeeding generations?
Mutation
What is the primary focus of this chapter, according to the introduction?
The connection between living and nonliving things in an ecosystem
What is the ultimate result of the gradual accumulation of adaptations to the environment, according to the gradualism model?
The formation of new species
What is the role of the environment in shaping the evolution and behavior of organisms, according to the chapter?
The environment plays a significant role in shaping the evolution and behavior of organisms
Test your knowledge of biodiversity and evolution, including Charles Darwin's contributions, evidence of evolution, and the role of natural selection in the evolutionary process. Learn how biodiversity and evolution affect life and ecosystems. Assess your prior knowledge and understanding of evolution and speciation.
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