Questions and Answers
Structural similarities shared by species that are acquired by descent from a common ancestor are called:
Structural similarities shared by a wide array of distantly-related species that are inherited from a remote ancestor are termed:
What do we call structural similarities between species that are based on common function and not on common evolutionary descent?
The theory that macroevolution proceeds as the result of gradual microevolutionary change:
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Speciation can occur as a result of all of the following except:
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What is the term for the rapid expansion and diversification of groups of organisms into newly available ecological niches?
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What type of ancestor provides the flexible evolutionary basis for rapid diversification?
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As discussed, long-term continental drift had significant evolutionary ramifications because:
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The study of how bones and other material come to be preserved as fossils is called:
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Which of the following is least likely to become a fossil?
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Assigning fossil remains to a particular primate species:
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An hypothesis regarding ancestor-descendant relationships that includes a time scale is called a:
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Ideally, taxonomic classification:
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The variation that exists among individuals within a species is termed interspecific variation.
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During the Paleozoic era, reptiles were the dominant land vertebrates.
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The diversification of the mammals occurred mostly during the:
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Animals with a nerve cord along the back and gill slits during some developmental stage are called:
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Development of a mammalian brain requires all EXCEPT:
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Mammals, in contrast to reptiles:
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What does the term endothermic refer to?
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Study Notes
Evolutionary Terms
- Homologies: Structural similarities derived from a common ancestor, indicating evolutionary relationships.
- Ancestral (Primitive) Traits: Shared structural traits across distantly-related species inherited from a remote ancestor, such as forelimb bone structure.
- Analogies: Structural similarities based on common function, not shared ancestry, distinguishing them from homologies.
Macroevolutionary Theories
- Gradual macroevolution theory suggests continuous microevolutionary changes; however, it is not the only accepted explanation for speciation, as alternatives exist.
- Speciation occurs through mechanisms including geographic isolation, ecological separation, and limited gene exchange, but not from a lack of habitat differences.
Adaptive Radiation
- Adaptive radiation refers to rapid diversification of organisms into new ecological niches, relying on ancestral species with generalized traits that allow flexibility in evolution.
Geographical Influence on Evolution
- Continental drift has significant evolutionary consequences by isolating animal groups with oceans, impacting species distribution and interactions.
Fossilization and Taphonomy
- Taphonomy: The study investigating how bones and materials preserve as fossils.
- Some materials are less likely to fossilize; for instance, internal body organs of reptiles are less likely compared to marine shells or bones.
Primate Classification
- Fossil classification to specific primate species requires comparative analysis with known living species and may be complicated due to various biodiversity factors.
Phylogenetic Analysis
- A phylogenetic tree presents hypotheses about ancestor-descendant relationships, including a time scale for evolutionary progression.
Taxonomic Classification
- Taxonomic systems should reflect evolutionary relationships rather than only behavioral similarities or acquired characteristics, emphasizing the biological lineage.
Species Variation
- Interspecific variation refers to differences between species, while variations within species are called intraspecific variation.
Historical Evolutionary Eras
- During the Paleozoic era, reptiles were not the dominant vertebrates; they emerged significantly later.
- Mammalian diversification primarily occurred during the Cenozoic era, following the age of reptiles.
Developmental Characteristics in Mammals
- Chordates are defined as animals exhibiting a nerve cord along the back and gill slits at certain stages of development.
- The mammalian brain's development occurs alongside social systems and intense growth periods, but is not dependent on the absence of nurturing (bond of milk).
Comparing Mammals and Reptiles
- Mammals are characterized by larger brains compared to reptiles and are endothermic, meaning they can regulate internal body temperature through metabolic processes.
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Description
Test your knowledge of evolutionary biology concepts, particularly focusing on structural similarities between species. This quiz covers terms such as homologies and their implications in understanding evolutionary relationships among species.
