Evolutionary Biology Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the first step in the scientific method?

  • Prediction
  • Testing
  • Hypothesis
  • Observation (correct)

    • Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species' was published in the 1800s.

    True

    What hypothesis was proposed regarding the advantages of giraffes' long necks?

    Giraffes have long necks to help them reach high foliage.

    The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection is based on two main ideas: species change over time and ________ as the mechanism for this change.

    <p>natural selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following historical figures with their contributions to evolutionary thought:

    <p>Anaximander = Suggested life evolved from simpler forms Aristotle = Proposed the 'ladder of life' concept Darwin = Introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection Naturalists = Documented species diversity during the Enlightenment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the competing hypothesis about giraffes' necks, what advantage may longer necks provide?

    <p>Male competition for mates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The step of evaluation in the scientific method involves determining if the data supports or refutes the hypothesis.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the study of giraffes, what method is used to observe their foraging behavior?

    <p>Recording the time spent foraging at various heights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which branch of ecology focuses on the evolutionary basis for animal behavior due to ecological pressures?

    <p>Behavioral ecology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Proximate causation addresses the evolutionary reasons behind a behavior.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a behavior that may represent a trade-off for organisms?

    <p>Foraging for food versus avoiding predators</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Honeybees communicate the location of food sources through a behavior known as the ______ dance.

    <p>waggle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following concepts with their descriptions:

    <p>Proximate Causation = Immediate mechanisms leading to behavior Ultimate Causation = Evolutionary reasons behind a behavior Altruism = Behavior that benefits another at a cost to oneself Behavioral Trade-offs = Choosing between competing demands</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best exemplifies altruistic behavior?

    <p>African wild dogs hunting in packs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Behavior can only be influenced by genetic factors.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of understanding behavioral ecology?

    <p>It helps explain the adaptive significance of behaviors in different species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which pair of taxa shares the most synapomorphies?

    <p>Green-Blue</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A monophyletic group contains an ancestor and only some of its descendants.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the principle of parsimony in phylogenetic analysis?

    <p>It evaluates the simplest explanation for the observed data by minimizing character state changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Nodes in a phylogenetic tree represent __________ of the taxa branching from that point.

    <p>common ancestors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following taxa pairs with their number of synapomorphies:

    <p>Purple-Green = 2 Green-Blue = 3 Purple-Pink = 0 Blue-Yellow = 1</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of interaction is characterized by one species benefiting while the other is neither helped nor harmed?

    <p>Commensalism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about homoplastic traits is correct?

    <p>They arise independently in different lineages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Identifying the outgroup is not essential for building phylogenetic trees.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In competitive interactions, both species benefit from the relationship.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is ecology defined as the study of interactions between organisms and their environment?

    <p>Because it encompasses both biotic and abiotic factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the principle that states two species cannot coexist if they occupy the same ecological niche?

    <p>Competitive exclusion principle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In mutualism, the interaction type is characterized as (+/+) meaning both species ______.

    <p>benefit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following species interactions with their definitions:

    <p>Competition = Negative effects for both species as they vie for resources Commensalism = One species benefits while the other is unaffected Mutualism = Both species benefit from the interaction Exploitation = One species benefits at the expense of another</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a mutualistic relationship?

    <p>Mycorrhizal fungi with plant roots</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Constitutive defenses are only activated in response to threats.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ______ niche represents the actual set of resources used by a species in an ecosystem.

    <p>realized</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first step to determine if a population is in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE)?

    <p>Calculate allele frequencies from observed genotype frequencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Natural selection can produce adaptations that enhance survival and reproductive success.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does mutation play in evolution?

    <p>Mutation is the source of all new genetic variation within populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Gene flow involves the transfer of alleles between __________.

    <p>populations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the evolutionary mechanisms with their descriptions:

    <p>Mutation = Source of new genetic variation Natural Selection = Process producing adaptations Genetic Drift = Random changes in allele frequencies Gene Flow = Transfer of alleles between populations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about genetic drift is true?

    <p>It has a more significant impact on small populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Assortative mating results in an excess of heterozygotes in a population.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Biological Species Concept emphasize?

    <p>Reproductive isolation and the inability of different species to interbreed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary consequence of competitive exclusion?

    <p>Extinction of the weaker competitor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The realized niche of a species is always larger than its fundamental niche.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is mutualism?

    <p>A beneficial interaction for both species involved.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    ______ are defenses that are activated in response to threats.

    <p>Inducible defenses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following interactions with their effects:

    <p>Predation = Positive effect on predator, negative effect on prey Herbivory = Positive effect on herbivore, negative effect on plant Mutualism = Positive effect on both species Parasitism = Positive effect on parasite, negative effect on host</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes niche partitioning?

    <p>Reduction in competition by exploiting different resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A biological community is only affected by the loss of apex predators.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of species loss on biodiversity?

    <p>It leads to declines in biodiversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Introduction to Biology

    • The scientific method is a systematic approach to inquiry.
    • Key steps include observation, questioning, hypothesizing, predicting, testing, and evaluating.
    • Observation involves noticing patterns in nature.
    • Questioning involves asking why those patterns exist.
    • Hypothesis formation involves proposing explanations for observed patterns.
    • Prediction involves determining what must be true if the hypothesis is correct.
    • Testing involves evaluating predictions through experiments.

    Case Study: The Giraffe's Neck

    • Giraffes are noted for their long necks, raising questions about evolutionary advantages.
    • Initial observation leads to the question, why do giraffes have such long necks?
    • Hypothesis: Giraffes have long necks to reach high foliage (primary food source).
    • Prediction: Giraffes should spend most of their foraging time at higher elevations.
    • Method: Observe giraffe foraging at different heights to collect data.
    • Evaluation: Determine if data supports or refutes the hypothesis.
    • Competing Hypothesis: Long necks may provide advantages in male competition for mates.

    Historical Timeline of Evolutionary Ideas

    • Early Greek philosophers like Anaximander suggested life evolved from simpler forms.
    • Aristotle classified organisms and proposed a 'ladder of life'.
    • The Enlightenment period saw naturalists observing and documenting species diversity.
    • Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection.

    Key Concepts of Evolution

    • Evolution is the change in allele frequencies in a population over time.
    • Natural selection is the mechanism for evolutionary change.
    • The Earth is ~4.6 billion years old, supporting the timeline for evolutionary processes.
    • Extinction is a natural part of evolution.

    Evidence Supporting Evolution

    • Transitional fossils demonstrate links between ancient and modern species.
    • Vestigial traits are remnants of ancestral traits.
    • Geographic distribution of similar species suggests a common ancestor.
    • Homologous traits, like forelimbs, indicate common descent.
    • Observable change (like antibiotic resistance in bacteria) shows rapid evolutionary processes.

    The Process of Natural Selection

    • Thomas Malthus's ideas on population growth and resource limitation influenced Darwin's work.
    • Artificial selection (selective breeding) provided a model for understanding natural selection.
    • Variation exists among individuals in a population.
    • Some traits are heritable, passing advantages to the next generation.
    • Survival and reproductive success vary among individuals.
    • Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

    Introduction to Mitosis and Its Importance

    • Evolution is linked to changes in DNA.
    • Genetic inheritance preserves successful variants across generations.
    • Mitosis is essential for growth, development, and maintaining multicellular organisms.
    • Prokaryotes lack a nucleus, while eukaryotes have a defined nucleus.
    • Mitosis involves condensing into chromosomes, disolving the nucleus, and chromosome alignment on the metaphase plate.

    Overview of Meiosis

    • Meiosis is a specialized cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing haploid gametes from a diploid germ cell.
    • Meiosis is essential for sexual reproduction.
    • The process consists of two sequential divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II.

    Mechanisms of Genetic Variation

    • Mutation creates new genetic variation.
    • Crossing over exchanges segments between homologous chromosomes.

    Importance of Genetic Variation

    • Genetic variation is fundamental for natural selection.
    • Asexually reproducing populations lack genetic diversity and have difficulties adapting to environmental changes.

    Introduction and Fundamental Concepts of Inheritance

    • Inheritance is governed by specific rules.
    • A gene is a unit of hereditary information (DNA/RNA).
    • Alleles are different varieties of a gene.
    • Homologous chromosomes carry the same genes, but can have different alleles.

    Complex Patterns of Inheritance

    • Incomplete dominance: Heterozygotes display an intermediate phenotype.
    • Codominance: Both alleles in a heterozygote are fully expressed.
    • Sex-linked traits are located on sex chromosomes.
    • Multifactorial traits are influenced by multiple genes and environment.

    Understanding Evolution and Population Genetics

    • Evolution is a change in allele frequencies in a population over time.
    • Allele frequency is how common an allele is in a population.
    • Population genetics is the study of allele behavior within groups of organisms.

    Principles of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

    • Hardy-Weinberg principle/equilibrium (HWE): Assumes no evolution for calculating expected genotype frequencies.
    • Five conditions must be met for HWE to hold.
    • Population allele frequencies stay constant in absence of evolutionary pressures.
    • Calculating allele frequencies from genotype frequencies is used to test whether the population is in HWE, which means evolution is not happening.

    Mechanisms of Evolution: Mutation and Variation

    • Mutations are the original source of new genetic variation within populations.
    • Without mutation, evolution by natural selection cannot occur.

    Natural Selection

    • Natural selection is the only evolutionary process that produces adaptations.
    • Traits must be variable, heritable, and influence fitness.

    Genetic Drift

    • Genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies.
    • Impacts small populations more dramatically than large ones.

    Gene Flow

    • Gene flow involves the transfer of alleles between populations, reducing genetic differences.
    • Non-random mating can alter genotype proportions, resulting in excess heterozygotes or homozygotes.

    Understanding Species Concepts

    • Biological species concept defines species based on reproductive isolation.
    • Morphospecies concept defines species based on morphological differences.
    • Phylogenetic species concept defines species based on monophyletic groups.

    Mechanisms of Speciation

    • Allopatric speciation: populations are geographically isolated (e.g., Darwin's finches).
    • Sympatric speciation: occurs without geographic barriers (e.g., cichlid fish).

    Outcomes of Secondary Contact

    • Complete reproductive isolation: populations do not interbreed.
    • Fusion: populations interbreed, removing differences.
    • Reinforcement: hybrid offspring are non-viable or infertile.

    Evolutionary Dynamics

    • Gradualism: Evolution is a gradual process of small changes over time.
    • Punctuated equilibrium: Evolution proceeds in rapid bursts followed by long periods of stability.

    Understanding Phylogenies

    • A phylogeny is a tree-like diagram representing evolutionary relationships.
    • Outgroup: A species or group outside the group of interest.
    • Synapomorphy: shared derived characteristics.
    • Phylogenies help to understand evolutionary diversification.

    Introduction to Ecology and Behavioral Ecology

    • Ecology studies the interactions between organisms and their environment.
    • Behavioral ecology analyzes the evolutionary basis of animal behavior.
    • Proximate causation deals with the immediate mechanisms of behavior.
    • Ultimate causation deals with evolutionary reasons for a behavior.

    Behavioral Choices and Trade-offs

    • Behaviors frequently have trade-offs, with conflicts between competing demands.
    • Honeybee dance example demonstrates behavior for resource communication.

    Altruism in Behavioral Ecology

    • Altruistic behavior benefits another individual at a cost to the actor.
    • Several mechanisms explain the evolution of altruism: manipulation, mutualism, and reciprocal altruism.

    Kin Selection and Cooperative Behavior

    • Kin selection and cooperation are types of natural selection.
    • Kin selection favors behaviors that benefit relatives.
    • Hamilton's rule (rB - C > 0) formalizes kin-selection conditions (relatedness, benefit to recipient, and actor cost).
    • Cooperative lekking in wild turkeys provides an example of kin selection dynamics.

    Overview of Kin Selection and Cooperative Behavior

    • Kin selection favors behaviors benefiting close relatives.
    • Inclusive fitness encompasses both direct and indirect reproductive success.

    Impacts of Species Loss in Communities

    • Species loss disrupts ecological interactions and leads to cascading effects.
    • The elimination of keystone species can significantly affect community structure, function, and biodiversity.

    Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

    • Human activities threaten biodiversity.
    • Habitat loss, overharvesting, pollution, invasive species are significant threats.
    • Understanding evolutionary and ecological factors is crucial for biodiversity conservation.

    Overview of Animal Mating Systems

    • Mating systems vary among species (monogamous, promiscuous, mixed).
    • Mating systems contribute to understanding evolutionary biology.
    • The choice of mating strategy is influenced by ecological factors and available mates.

    Lekking Behavior

    • Lekking involves elaborate displays by males to attract females.
    • Direct comparison among males benefits females.
    • Lekking examples include wild turkeys and sage grouse.

    Brood parasitism in honeyguides

    • These are obligate brood parasites.
    • Coevolution is observed between brood parasites and hosts.

    Egg mimicry and selective pressures

    • Egg mimicry is a survival strategy employed by some species.
    • Different species mimic different features of host eggs, likely due to varying selective pressures.

    Case Study: Wild Turkeys

    • Wild turkeys form coalitions, where subordinate males can support the dominant ones.
    • Observations highlight the kin-selection hypothesis which suggests cooperative breeding strategies benefit relatives.

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    Test your knowledge on the scientific method and evolutionary biology concepts. This quiz covers key theories, historical figures, and specific examples related to evolution, particularly focusing on giraffe behavior and ecology. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of biology.

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