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Questions and Answers
What is the difference between dispersal and vicariance?
What is the difference between dispersal and vicariance?
Dispersal involves the movement of the organism, whereas vicariance involves a change in the environment.
Speciation involving a geographic separation of populations from a parent species and subsequent evolution is called?
Speciation involving a geographic separation of populations from a parent species and subsequent evolution is called?
Allopatric speciation
What characteristic of mules supports the conclusion that horses and donkeys are different species?
What characteristic of mules supports the conclusion that horses and donkeys are different species?
Mules are infertile
Which condition involves a cell, or organism, having an extra set of chromosomes?
Which condition involves a cell, or organism, having an extra set of chromosomes?
Which condition would result in allopatric speciation taking place more quickly?
Which condition would result in allopatric speciation taking place more quickly?
What is the term used to describe 'a group of actually or potentially interbreeding individuals'?
What is the term used to describe 'a group of actually or potentially interbreeding individuals'?
What term best fits the situation where a population of iguanas lands on a Caribbean island and becomes separated from the original population?
What term best fits the situation where a population of iguanas lands on a Caribbean island and becomes separated from the original population?
Which of the following are allopolyploids?
Which of the following are allopolyploids?
What variable increases the likelihood of allopatric speciation taking place more quickly?
What variable increases the likelihood of allopatric speciation taking place more quickly?
_______ occurs when individuals of two different species reproduce to form a viable offspring.
_______ occurs when individuals of two different species reproduce to form a viable offspring.
Which situation would most likely lead to allopatric speciation?
Which situation would most likely lead to allopatric speciation?
What term is used to describe speciation without geographic separation?
What term is used to describe speciation without geographic separation?
The Hawaiian honeycreeper illustrates an example of?
The Hawaiian honeycreeper illustrates an example of?
What is the ultimate source of all genetic variation in a population?
What is the ultimate source of all genetic variation in a population?
In which conditions will the allele frequency of a species remain constant from one generation to another?
In which conditions will the allele frequency of a species remain constant from one generation to another?
The effects of genetic drift are most apparent in small populations.
The effects of genetic drift are most apparent in small populations.
Which of the following situations will lead to natural selection?
Which of the following situations will lead to natural selection?
Which statement most accurately represents what geneticists refer to as fitness?
Which statement most accurately represents what geneticists refer to as fitness?
In relation to natural selection, evolution is the?
In relation to natural selection, evolution is the?
Which of the following can be used to know whether a population is evolving?
Which of the following can be used to know whether a population is evolving?
What does the genetic history of the Afrikaner population of Dutch settlers in South Africa provide evidence of?
What does the genetic history of the Afrikaner population of Dutch settlers in South Africa provide evidence of?
_______ can occur when an individual travels from one geographic location to another and joins a different population of the species.
_______ can occur when an individual travels from one geographic location to another and joins a different population of the species.
Galápagos medium ground finches are found on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal islands. What mechanism can alter the allele frequencies through occasional travel between the islands?
Galápagos medium ground finches are found on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal islands. What mechanism can alter the allele frequencies through occasional travel between the islands?
With respect to evolution, a disaster that randomly kills a large portion of the population is known as?
With respect to evolution, a disaster that randomly kills a large portion of the population is known as?
Why does genetic drift occur?
Why does genetic drift occur?
What is mutation?
What is mutation?
In which of the following pairs do both evolutionary processes introduce new genetic variation into a population?
In which of the following pairs do both evolutionary processes introduce new genetic variation into a population?
What alleles are impacted by genetic drift?
What alleles are impacted by genetic drift?
The forelimbs of many vertebrates, such as human arms and forelegs of horses, are quite similar. What does this illustrate?
The forelimbs of many vertebrates, such as human arms and forelegs of horses, are quite similar. What does this illustrate?
Shared derived characters are?
Shared derived characters are?
The wings of bats and dragonflies are homologous structures.
The wings of bats and dragonflies are homologous structures.
The scientific name for a wild horse is Equus ferus. Equus is the ______ name, while ferus is the ______ name.
The scientific name for a wild horse is Equus ferus. Equus is the ______ name, while ferus is the ______ name.
What genus does the California wildrose belong to?
What genus does the California wildrose belong to?
A group of organisms at any particular level of classification is called a?
A group of organisms at any particular level of classification is called a?
Binomial nomenclature is?
Binomial nomenclature is?
Taxonomy is?
Taxonomy is?
Genus is?
Genus is?
Sister taxa are?
Sister taxa are?
In which of the following levels would there generally be the largest number of shared characteristics among organisms of that level?
In which of the following levels would there generally be the largest number of shared characteristics among organisms of that level?
A dog and a rabbit belong to the same class, Mammalia. This means they are also in the same?
A dog and a rabbit belong to the same class, Mammalia. This means they are also in the same?
Which of the following is the correct representation of the scientific name for a cat?
Which of the following is the correct representation of the scientific name for a cat?
When constructing a phylogenetic tree, if you were to apply parsimony, you would?
When constructing a phylogenetic tree, if you were to apply parsimony, you would?
If two organisms share common morphological features, they are considered to be related.
If two organisms share common morphological features, they are considered to be related.
Cladograms constructed on evidence from molecular systematics is based on?
Cladograms constructed on evidence from molecular systematics is based on?
A group of organisms at any particular level of classifications is called a:
A group of organisms at any particular level of classifications is called a:
A dog and rabbit belong to the same class, Mammalia. This means they are also in the same?
A dog and rabbit belong to the same class, Mammalia. This means they are also in the same?
What is the best method for determining the relationship of closely related groups?
What is the best method for determining the relationship of closely related groups?
The wings of bats and dragonflies are homologous structures.
The wings of bats and dragonflies are homologous structures.
A wolf and a cat belong to the same order, Carnivora. This means they also belong in the same?
A wolf and a cat belong to the same order, Carnivora. This means they also belong in the same?
In which of the following levels would there generally be the largest number of shared characteristics among organisms of that level?
In which of the following levels would there generally be the largest number of shared characteristics among organisms of that level?
A(n) _______ species is a species that faces extinction in all or part of its range.
A(n) _______ species is a species that faces extinction in all or part of its range.
Pest control is an ecosystem service that supports human agriculture.
Pest control is an ecosystem service that supports human agriculture.
Biodiversity in every taxonomic group of organisms increases as latitude increases.
Biodiversity in every taxonomic group of organisms increases as latitude increases.
Biodiversity tends to increase?
Biodiversity tends to increase?
Grizzly bears relocating north in response to climate change, thereby occupying polar bear habitat is an example of?
Grizzly bears relocating north in response to climate change, thereby occupying polar bear habitat is an example of?
High numbers of ________ are contained in biodiversity hotspots.
High numbers of ________ are contained in biodiversity hotspots.
Clearing a forest, or replacing prairies with pasture lands, and crop fields is an example of what type of threat to biodiversity?
Clearing a forest, or replacing prairies with pasture lands, and crop fields is an example of what type of threat to biodiversity?
Which of the following are reasons why most exotic species introductions into an ecosystem fail?
Which of the following are reasons why most exotic species introductions into an ecosystem fail?
When does an exotic species become an invasive species?
When does an exotic species become an invasive species?
Biodiversity hotspots are?
Biodiversity hotspots are?
The diversity that enables living things to adapt and survive environmental changes is called?
The diversity that enables living things to adapt and survive environmental changes is called?
The Irish potato blight would not have been severe if the potatoes had?
The Irish potato blight would not have been severe if the potatoes had?
Which of these statements best describes a keystone species?
Which of these statements best describes a keystone species?
Desert ecosystems are especially threatened by exotic species.
Desert ecosystems are especially threatened by exotic species.
What is species-area relationship?
What is species-area relationship?
Study Notes
Concepts of Dispersal and Speciation
- Dispersal refers to the movement of organisms, while vicariance is due to environmental changes affecting species distribution.
- Allopatric speciation occurs when geographic separation leads to population divergence.
- Hybrid fertility is a key differentiator of species; mules, hybrids of horses and donkeys, are infertile.
Genetic Mechanisms and Evolutionary Processes
- Polyploidy involves a cell or organism having extra sets of chromosomes, facilitating speciation.
- Allopatric speciation is accelerated by greater geographical distances separating populations.
- Sympatric speciation occurs without geographic separation, while adaptive radiation is exemplified by Hawaiian honeycreepers.
Evolutionary Genetics and Natural Selection
- Random mutations are the ultimate source of genetic variation within populations.
- Genetic drift impacts all alleles, being more pronounced in small populations due to random sampling effects.
- Fitness in genetics measures an organism's reproductive success in surviving and producing offspring.
Taxonomy and Classification
- Binomial nomenclature assigns a two-part name (genus and species) to organisms, e.g., Equus ferus for wild horses.
- Taxon refers to a group of organisms at any classification level, with genus signifying groups of similar species.
- Cladograms based on molecular systematics utilize DNA sequencing for understanding evolutionary relationships.
Biodiversity and Conservation
- Biodiversity hotspots are regions critical for conservation, containing high endemic species and potential risk for extinction.
- Habitat loss from activities like deforestation or agriculture poses a significant threat to biodiversity.
- Invasive species threaten native populations when competing for resources or spreading diseases.
Environmental Responses and Species Dynamics
- Range shifts occur when species migrate in response to changing environmental conditions, such as climate change.
- Genetic diversity enhances a population's ability to adapt to environmental changes, aiding survival.
- Keystone species are crucial for ecosystem stability; their loss can lead to significant ecological shifts.
Specific Definitions and Clarifications
- Endangered species face extinction risks within part or all of their range.
- The species-area relationship posits that larger areas tend to support more species, crucial for conservation planning.
- The Irish potato blight illustrated the risk of low genetic diversity, leading to vulnerabilities in crops.
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Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key concepts from Contemporary Biology. This quiz includes questions on dispersal, vicariance, and speciation, helping you understand important biological processes. Perfect for reviewing essential terms and definitions.
