Evolutionary Biology Quiz

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What is a disadvantage of the genealogical species concept?

It cannot be applied to fossil organisms. (correct)
It requires minimal knowledge of gene pools.
It cannot be used for asexual organisms.
It is easy to apply in practice.

Which species concept is based primarily on physical characteristics?

Morphological species (correct)
Genealogical species
Biological species
Evolutionary species

How does convergent evolution occur?

When two species interbreed.
Due to similar environmental factors leading to similar traits. (correct)
When species share a common ancestor.
When gene pools are genetically isolated.

Which term refers to the study of evolutionary change on allele frequencies?

Population genetics (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'allele frequency' refer to in evolutionary biology?

How often a specific trait appears in a population. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the transformation hypothesis suggest about the creation of new species?

Only microevolution occurs within existing species. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which classification method organizes species from broadest to narrowest groupings?

Linnaean classification (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of molecular clocks in evolutionary biology?

To estimate the time since two species diverged. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What do vestigial traits in organisms indicate?

They are nonfunctional remnants of ancestral features. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes anatomical homology?

Unrelated organisms have similar structures due to common ancestry. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about biogeography is true?

Geographical distributions correspond with historical relationships. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does developmental homology showcase among different species?

Similarities in early developmental stages. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the fossil record provide evidence for in evolution?

The sequence of life's transitions. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most compelling evidence for the single origin of all life?

The universality of DNA and the relationship between DNA and proteins (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes natural selection?

Natural selection leads to an increase in the frequency of traits that improve survival and reproduction. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of selection leads to a population with two or more variants?

Diversifying selection (C) Signup and view all the answers

What explains the large bill in certain birds during droughts?

Adaptation to crack open large seeds that are the only food available (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about adaptations is accurate?

Adaptations increase an individual's relative fitness in a specific environment. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was a key observation made by Darwin regarding populations?

Variations within populations can be beneficial for survival. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes the agreement among observations derived from multiple sources?

Consilience (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does modern synthesis refer to in the context of evolution?

The integration of genetics with evolutionary theory (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is genetic drift primarily the result of?

Chance events (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the founder effect?

It involves a small sample establishing a new population. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which kingdom is characterized by organisms that are multicellular and primarily rely on other organisms for food?

Kingdom Animalia (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which group of organisms does not contain a nucleus?

Prokaryotes (D) Signup and view all the answers

What type of selection occurs when traits influence the likelihood of mating?

Sexual selection (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes invertebrates?

Animals without backbones (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the defining characteristic of organisms in the kingdom fungi?

Multicellular and reproduce by spores (B) Signup and view all the answers

The endosymbiotic theory explains the origin of which organelles in eukaryotic cells?

Mitochondria and chloroplasts (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does phylogeny refer to?

The evolutionary relationship of species (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which method is used to estimate population size based on marked individuals?

Mark-recapture method (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of population distribution is characterized by high densities in resource-rich areas?

Clumped distribution (B) Signup and view all the answers

What defines carrying capacity in an environment?

The maximum population that can be supported indefinitely (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes logistic growth?

When birth and death rates stabilize resulting in a S-shaped curve (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is considered density dependent?

Limited food supply (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is demographic transition?

A shift in birth rates dropping towards lower death rates (C) Signup and view all the answers

How is human population growth generally characterized?

Exponential growth that defies environmental conditions (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is demographic momentum?

The lag between when a population approaches carrying capacity and when it responds to that limit. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a threatened organism?

An organism that is at high risk of becoming endangered. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributes to species extinction by reducing habitable areas?

Habitat degradation due to development. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the current rate of species extinction?

1% (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a mass extinction event?

A global phenomenon resulting in the loss of numerous species. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about population cycles is true?

High birth rates can lead to rapid growth followed by crashes. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role does education of women play in population dynamics?

It results in fewer children and later childbirth. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the background extinction rate of marine species?

0.0001% (D) Signup and view all the answers

Transformation Hypothesis

Organisms change over time through microevolution, but new species don't arise.

Separate Types Hypothesis

Different types of organisms arose separately and then diversified.

Linnaean Classification

A system for naming organisms with two-part Latin names (genus and species), organized hierarchically (kingdom, phylum, etc.).