More Exam 3 application questions from Review Sheet topics

Which scientific idea proposes that the interactions between species are dynamic and involve an ongoing evolutionary "arms race," leading to constant adaptation and counter-adaptation?

According to which concept, the genetic diversity within a population is mainly shaped by the forces of mutation, genetic drift, and migration, while natural selection is considered less influential?

Which concept defines a population as a group of interbreeding individuals that are reproductively isolated from other such groups, emphasizing the importance of reproductive barriers in the process of speciation?

In a population of wildflowers, a biologist observes that the color of the flowers remains consistent over several generations. The population is large, flowers are freely interbreeding, and no external factors influence the selection of flower color. Which genetic principle is likely at play in maintaining the stable frequencies of flower color alleles in this population?

In a forest ecosystem, a predator-prey relationship between a species of fox and a species of rabbit is observed. Over time, the fox population develops enhanced hunting strategies, while the rabbit population evolves improved evasion mechanisms. Despite these adaptations, the predator and prey remain in a dynamic and escalating struggle for survival. Which evolutionary principle best explains this ongoing coevolutionary "arms race" in the predator-prey relationship?

Despite serving different functions (grasping, flying, swimming), the forelimbs of vertebrates like humans, bats, and whales are considered _______________ traits. They share a common underlying structure due to their descent from a common distant (not recent) ancestor with similar forelimbs.

In phylogenetics, we want to avoid classifying organisms together based on:

Homologies and analogies arise due to convergent evolution (or parallel evolution), when similar features arise independently in 2 groups.

What are the reason that homoplasies and analogies arise in convergent evolution?

In a lake ecosystem, two species of fish, initially sharing a common ancestor, evolve distinct traits over generations. One species becomes adapted to the open water, developing streamlined bodies and swift swimming abilities, while the other species adapts to the lake's rocky bottom, acquiring flattened bodies and enhanced camouflage. What evolutionary process best describes the observed divergence of these fish species?

In a large tropical rainforest, a population of frogs with a common ancestor undergoes a unique process of speciation. Over time, researchers observe the emergence of two distinct frog populations with different mating behaviors and reproductive preferences, despite residing in the same geographic area. What type of speciation best explains the observed divergence of these frog populations?

In a small, isolated population of butterflies on an island, researchers observe a significant change in the frequency of a specific wing color trait over just a few generations. The shift appears unrelated to environmental pressures or natural selection. What evolutionary process is most likely responsible for this rapid change in trait frequency?

In a population of wildflowers, researchers observe that individuals with a specific flower color are more likely to survive and reproduce compared to those with different colors. Over several generations, the frequency of this advantageous flower color significantly increases in the population. What evolutionary process is most likely responsible for this change in the population's trait distribution?

In a population of brightly colored birds, researchers notice that females consistently prefer males with more vibrant plumage during the mating season. Over generations, the intensity of plumage coloration in males increases, even though it doesn't necessarily contribute to their survival in the environment. What evolutionary process is most likely responsible for this change in the population's trait distribution?

In a forested region, two populations of rabbits live on opposite sides of a large river. Despite the physical barrier, researchers observe occasional movement of individuals between the populations. Over time, the genetic makeup of both populations becomes more similar. What evolutionary process is most likely responsible for this homogenization (making it similar) of gene pools?

In a population of salamanders, researchers observe a phenomenon where certain individuals retain juvenile traits, such as gills and aquatic features, even as they reach reproductive maturity. Over several generations, this trait becomes more prevalent in the population. What evolutionary process is best describes the phenomenon most likely responsible for this?

In a population of deer, researchers observe that the relative size of antlers changes as individuals age. Younger individuals have smaller antlers in proportion to their body size, while older individuals develop larger antlers relative to their increased body size. Despite these size changes, the overall shape and branching pattern of the antlers remain consistent. What mechanism best explains the observed variations in antler size within this deer population?

In a population of turtles, researchers observe there is a shift in the sequence of developmental events related to the formation of scutes. Younger turtles first develop a row of large scutes along the center of their shell, followed by the development of smaller scutes along the periphery as they age. Despite variations in overall shell size, the general timing of shell formation events remains consistent across individuals. What mechanism best explains this observed variation in the sequence of shell development within the turtle population?

In a population of songbirds, researchers discover a new color variant that has not been observed in previous generations. This variant exhibits a unique and vibrant plumage color not seen in any other individuals of the same species. Despite the absence of this color in the ancestral population, the new variant is capable of reproducing and passing on its distinctive color to its offspring. What mechanism best explains the origin of this novel plumage color in the songbird population?

What is a type of Genetic Drift?

The near-extinction of over-hunted elephant seals in the 1800s and today's elephant seals having a genetic makeup similar to the small population of elephant seals who survived from the 1800s, is a real-life example of the bottleneck effect.

A bird comes into contact only seeds from purple flowers on an island that has both red and purple flowers. The bird carries the seeds to a remote island that has no flowers, and that island then ends up having only purple flowers. This is a real life example of the _____________effect?

The Afrikaner population in South Africa has an unusually high frequency of the gene that causes Huntington's disease, due to the handful of Dutch colonists who settled South Africa having had a high incidence of this gene. This is an example of the ______________ effect. BTW, this is a post-reproductive disease that affects people after they can't reproduce, so it continues to get passed on (because the people that have it live past their reproductive years).

The Hardy-Weinberg theorem holds only when mating between individuals of a population is totally random. The Hardy-Weinberg theorem always holds true with respect to mate choice in humans.

The word _______________ is a general term that refers to an individual's contribution to the next generation's gene pool.

The lizard population off the coast of Croatia that changed quickly (in 40 generations), developed larger heads, a stronger bite and a compartmentalized stomach in response to the most vegetarian food source available on the island. This is an example of :

Sue has had 14 healthy children compared to Karen who had one child. Sue is considered more reproductively fit than Karen since she contributed more to the next generation's gene pool by having 14 kids vs 1.

In the past, ancient Greeks (including Aristotle) and Judeo-Christians believed species were fixed and didn't change.

Which of the following is evidence supporting evolution?

Which of the following is an application of a phylogenetic tree?

A problem with the definition of the biological species concept is: