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Questions and Answers
What does a phylogenetic tree depict?
What does a phylogenetic tree depict?
Convergent evolution refers to closely related species that develop similar features.
Convergent evolution refers to closely related species that develop similar features.
False
Name two major goals of studying animal diversity.
Name two major goals of studying animal diversity.
locating the origins of major characteristics and understanding historical processes
Animals with a backbone are classified as ______.
Animals with a backbone are classified as ______.
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Match the following steps to the correct part of scientific method:
Match the following steps to the correct part of scientific method:
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The hypothetic-deductive method is a scientific process of making a conjecture and then seeking empirical tests that potentially lead to:
The hypothetic-deductive method is a scientific process of making a conjecture and then seeking empirical tests that potentially lead to:
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Darwin's observations on the Galápagos Islands showed that each island had the exact same species as the South American mainland.
Darwin's observations on the Galápagos Islands showed that each island had the exact same species as the South American mainland.
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What is the primary difference between the experimental method and the comparative method in the scientific process?
What is the primary difference between the experimental method and the comparative method in the scientific process?
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Evolution occurs at the level of a ______.
Evolution occurs at the level of a ______.
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
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What is the term for the process where populations accumulate favorable characteristics over long periods of evolutionary time?
What is the term for the process where populations accumulate favorable characteristics over long periods of evolutionary time?
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Darwinian fitness always refers to the biggest or strongest organisms.
Darwinian fitness always refers to the biggest or strongest organisms.
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What did Darwin call the concept that all finches he discovered on the Galápagos had evolved from a single ancestor?
What did Darwin call the concept that all finches he discovered on the Galápagos had evolved from a single ancestor?
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Which of the following best describes Lamarck's theory of transformational evolution?
Which of the following best describes Lamarck's theory of transformational evolution?
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A cluster of species changing to occupy different habitats within a region is known as ______.
A cluster of species changing to occupy different habitats within a region is known as ______.
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Match the following scientists with their contributions to the study of finches:
Match the following scientists with their contributions to the study of finches:
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The concept of uniformitarianism suggests that past geological events occurred through processes that are different from those observed today.
The concept of uniformitarianism suggests that past geological events occurred through processes that are different from those observed today.
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What was the key insight from Malthus' work that influenced Darwin's theory of evolution?
What was the key insight from Malthus' work that influenced Darwin's theory of evolution?
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What is a 'niche' in the context of evolutionary biology?
What is a 'niche' in the context of evolutionary biology?
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Favorable characteristics are universally beneficial and provide the same advantages in all environments.
Favorable characteristics are universally beneficial and provide the same advantages in all environments.
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According to Malthus, human populations tend to increase __________, while the capacity for food production only grows ___________ .
According to Malthus, human populations tend to increase __________, while the capacity for food production only grows ___________ .
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What is one piece of evidence that Darwin used to support his theories?
What is one piece of evidence that Darwin used to support his theories?
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Match the scientist with their contribution to evolutionary thought:
Match the scientist with their contribution to evolutionary thought:
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What primary reason caused transformational evolution theories to be rejected by the scientific community?
What primary reason caused transformational evolution theories to be rejected by the scientific community?
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Variational evolution focuses on the modification of individuals during their lifetime, which is then passed down to their offspring.
Variational evolution focuses on the modification of individuals during their lifetime, which is then passed down to their offspring.
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Give a real world example of variational evolution from the content.
Give a real world example of variational evolution from the content.
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Which of the following best describes analogous structures?
Which of the following best describes analogous structures?
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According to the Law of Stratigraphy, older layers of sedimentary rock are found above younger layers.
According to the Law of Stratigraphy, older layers of sedimentary rock are found above younger layers.
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What is the term for the study of the relationship of organisms to their environments?
What is the term for the study of the relationship of organisms to their environments?
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The dating method that uses the known half-life of K-40 to determine the age of a fossil is called ______ dating.
The dating method that uses the known half-life of K-40 to determine the age of a fossil is called ______ dating.
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What did the Grants' study on finches demonstrate about evolution?
What did the Grants' study on finches demonstrate about evolution?
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The average beak depth of finches decreased after a drought ended due to the abundance of larger, harder to crack seeds.
The average beak depth of finches decreased after a drought ended due to the abundance of larger, harder to crack seeds.
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What is another name for convergent evolution?
What is another name for convergent evolution?
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The radioactive decay of naturally occurring elements, used in radiometric dating, is independent of ______ and ______.
The radioactive decay of naturally occurring elements, used in radiometric dating, is independent of ______ and ______.
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Which of these is NOT an example of evidence of evolution?
Which of these is NOT an example of evidence of evolution?
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Which of the following best describes a 'deme'?
Which of the following best describes a 'deme'?
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Unrestricted population growth is commonly observed in nature.
Unrestricted population growth is commonly observed in nature.
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What is the term for the study of the age, sex ratio, and growth rate of a population?
What is the term for the study of the age, sex ratio, and growth rate of a population?
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A population that cannot sustain itself and relies on immigrants from stable populations is known as a ___________ deme.
A population that cannot sustain itself and relies on immigrants from stable populations is known as a ___________ deme.
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Match the following ecological terms with their descriptions:
Match the following ecological terms with their descriptions:
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Which of the following is an example of a nonexpendable resource?
Which of the following is an example of a nonexpendable resource?
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Abiotic factors are density-dependent and increase their impact as population size increases.
Abiotic factors are density-dependent and increase their impact as population size increases.
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What type of ecological interaction occurs when both interacting species benefit?
What type of ecological interaction occurs when both interacting species benefit?
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The first level of consumers that eat plants are called ___________.
The first level of consumers that eat plants are called ___________.
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Match the following trophic levels with their corresponding characteristic:
Match the following trophic levels with their corresponding characteristic:
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Which ecological pyramid gives the best overall picture of community structure?
Which ecological pyramid gives the best overall picture of community structure?
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According to the laws of thermodynamics in ecology, each trophic level contains approximately 50% of the energy of the trophic level below it.
According to the laws of thermodynamics in ecology, each trophic level contains approximately 50% of the energy of the trophic level below it.
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What is the term for a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem?
What is the term for a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem?
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Parasites that live inside the tissues and organs of a host are known as ___________.
Parasites that live inside the tissues and organs of a host are known as ___________.
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Match the following survivorship curves with their general characteristics:
Match the following survivorship curves with their general characteristics:
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Study Notes
Evolution and Scientific Method
- Convergent evolution describes unrelated species independently evolving similar features.
- Zoology is the scientific study of animals.
- Phylogenetic trees diagram the history of animal life, showcasing evolutionary lineages and branching events. Each branch represents a lineage, splitting from an ancestral species.
Major Goals of Animal Diversity Study
- Locating the origins of major characteristics like multicellularity, a coelom, spiral cleavage, vertebrae, and homeothermy.
- Understanding the historical processes that create and maintain species diversity and adaptations. Comparisons are made between invertebrates (no backbone) and vertebrates (backbone), ectothermic (cold-blooded) and endothermic (warm-blooded) animals.
Steps of the Scientific Method
- Observation is a critical step in evaluating animal populations.
- Forming a testable hypothesis is crucial. Hypotheses can be derived through the hypothetical-deductive method, experimental method, or comparative method.
- Empirical tests are performed to validate hypotheses.
- Controlled experiments using at least two groups (test and control) are essential.
- Conclusions are drawn either accepting or rejecting the hypothesis.
- Publication of findings is a crucial final step.
Darwinian Evolutionary Theory
- Darwin's work revolved around variations within populations and the increased frequency of favorable traits over generations.
- Darwin's discoveries stemmed from extensive collections and observations. His voyages, particularly on the HMS Beagle, focused heavily on the South American coast and Galapagos Islands.
- Darwin observed similarities in climate and topography among Galapagos Islands, but also noted unique species resembling those of the South American mainland.
- He reasoned that Galapagos life originated in continental South America and that island colonization followed, with subsequent adaptation to distinct environments via dispersal. This resulted in variations in each island's fauna.
Pre-Darwinian Evolutionary Ideas
- Early Greek philosophers like Xenophanes, Empedocles, and Aristotle, discussed the idea of life evolving over time.
- Lamarckism outlined transformational evolution, where acquired traits are inherited, but was later refuted by genetic studies.
- Uniformitarianism, a concept espoused by Charles Lyell, emphasizes consistent natural processes throughout Earth's history.
Development of Darwin's Ideas
- Malthus' work on populations and resource limitations influenced Darwin's understanding of natural selection.
- Populations have the capacity to expand beyond their environment's carrying capacity, while resource availability increases arithmetically—meaning food production cannot keep up with human population growth.
- Darwin concluded that organisms produce more offspring than can survive and that favourable characteristics are passed down.
- Natural selection is an evolutionary process where populations acquire beneficial traits over time. An adaptive trait improves the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in a given environment.
- Darwin's concept of fitness is about survival and reproduction, not always the largest or strongest.
Darwin's Finches
- Darwin observed finches with distinct beak shapes tailored to specific food sources; He termed these as adaptive radiation (change within groups of related species).
- Different niches exist within ecosystems, fostering further evolutionary adaptation for the benefit of survival.
- Studies on finches (especially Grant's work), clearly proved that beak shapes change based on food availability, supporting Darwin's ideas about adaptation and evolution.
Evidence of Evolution
- Fossils provide direct evidence of past life and macroevolutionary changes over long time scales.
- Homologous structures demonstrate shared ancestry.
- Analogous structures highlight convergent evolution, where unrelated organisms independently evolve comparable traits due to similar selection pressures.
- Molecular evidence, like protein levels and evolutionary changes in genes, further supports evolutionary relationships.
- Geological findings, like the Law of Stratigraphy and radiometric dating, offer valuable insight into Earth's history and time scales.
Animal Ecology
- Ecology studies the interactions between organisms and their environments.
- Organisms have survival requirements, such as limits on temperature, moisture, and food.
- Niches describe an organism's ecological role, considering their environmental tolerances and resource use.
- Populations of the same organism coexist in communities. Demography studies age, sex ratio, and population growth rates (birth and death).
- Unrestricted population growth is rare in nature since resources are limited.
Community Ecology
- Mutualism, like the dependence of species, is crucial for survival.
- Facultative mutualism isn't obligatory but still beneficial to all involved.
- Predator-prey, parasitism (parasites benefit, hosts are harmed), herbivory (animals benefit, plants are harmed), and commensalism (one benefit, one neither harmed or helped), are key interactions within a community.
- Trophic levels (producers, herbivores, carnivores, decomposers) articulate food chains and energy flow.
- Ecological pyramids visually represent energy and biomass.
- Keystone species have a profound influence on their ecosystems—their removal significantly alters community structure.
Reproduction and Population Growth
- Organisms reproduce variably (asexual, sexual, and parthenogenesis).
- Semelparity and iteroparity describe different reproductive strategies.
- Survivorship curves illustrate species' survival patterns, highlighting different mortality rates during life.
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Description
Explore the concepts of convergent evolution and the scientific method as they relate to zoology. This quiz covers the major goals in studying animal diversity, including the understanding of vertebrates and invertebrates. Test your knowledge on phylogenetic trees and the critical steps of forming hypotheses.
