Untitled Quiz

Questions and Answers

How are human fossils classified into species?

by differences in the skeleton.

How does polyploidy cause reproductive isolation?

It alters the number of chromosomes in sex cells.

The nonfunctional wings of an ostrich are an example of what sort of evidence for the theory of common descent?

vestigial structures.

What prevents mules from having offspring?

They can't produce eggs and sperm. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of behavioral isolation?

Female spiders only mate when a male of the same species taps her web in a particular way. Signup and view all the answers

Red maple tree's seeds are dispersed by the wind. This species of tree can be found in fields, woods, and even wetlands. This is an example of a _____________ distribution.

random. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following observations was most influential to Charles Darwin?

the slight differences between organisms on nearby islands. Signup and view all the answers

A woman with a college education is more likely to have a large family than a woman with an eighth-grade education.

False Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following levels would contain members that are the most similar?

genus. Signup and view all the answers

Students studying a population of salamanders in a vernal pool marked each salamander caught as it's entering the pool. After capturing 200 salamanders followed by another 200 the next year, they found 20 were recaptured. They used this information to calculate that they captured of the total population and that the total salamander population in their pool is about ______.

10%; 2000. Signup and view all the answers

How did the geologist Charles Lyell influence Darwin?

he suggested that slow, gradual changes shaped the features of Earth. Signup and view all the answers

In 1846, the failure of 'Lumper' potato crops in Ireland was due to

inbreeding depression. Signup and view all the answers

When a population of spotted salamanders in an area of vernal pools remains stable for many years, and the population has stabilized because of resource limits, then

carrying capacity has been reached. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be most threatened by habitat fragmentation?

mountain lions. Signup and view all the answers

The Cambrian explosion is a period in Earth's history when what significant event occurred?

multicellular animals first appeared. Signup and view all the answers

Which activity could be best considered an example of an ecological study?

comparing the effects of varying water temperature in fish egg development. Signup and view all the answers

The role a species plays in an ecosystem is called its

niche. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes natural selection?

A population of a mammal species varies in the length of their legs; water levels rise and the habitat becomes swampy; the individuals with shorter legs are better able to swim to food; the population evolves to become shorter-legged. Signup and view all the answers

During the 1980s, wolves were introduced to Yellowstone National Park after decades of absence due to attempted extermination in the early part of the 20th century. Within 20 years, not only had the wolf population increased, but there was also a dramatic increase in other species, such as aspen, cottonwood, and willow trees, beavers, warblers, insects, and fish. These changes in Yellowstone Park are examples of how important a(n) ___________ can be to an ecosystem.

keystone species. Signup and view all the answers

Evolution is

a process that occurs as a result of differences in reproductive fitness. Signup and view all the answers

What is an allele?

a particular version of a gene. Signup and view all the answers

In what way is artificial selection different from natural selection?

In artificial selection, human preference is the selecting force; in natural selection, environmental conditions are the selecting force. Signup and view all the answers

Which one of the following shows the steps of speciation in the correct order?

geographic isolation, evolutionary changes, reproductive isolation. Signup and view all the answers

The entity most likely to profit when a pharmaceutically important molecule is discovered in a species of rainforest tree is

the company that discovered the compound. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following presents the greatest threat to biodiversity?

habitat loss or degradation. Signup and view all the answers

According to the most current classifications, which of the following groups is the most different from all the others?

bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

There have been ________ mass extinctions experienced on a global scale before the alarming mass extinction that's now occurring.

five. Signup and view all the answers

An organism is described that can live in very high temperature water. This organism is most likely a member of the

archaea domain. Signup and view all the answers

What is found when alleles among different human groups (races) are analyzed?

There are no race-specific alleles and no consistent patterns of allele frequencies within racial groups. Signup and view all the answers

Ants from the genus Pseudomyrmex live in bull's horn acacia trees, Acacia cornigera. The ants will attack any predators of the tree. In return, the ants live protected in the thorns of the tree and eat the nectar and protein-rich secretions of the tree. This is an example of

mutualism. Signup and view all the answers

A postfertilization barrier to reproduction has what result?

offspring that fail to develop. Signup and view all the answers

An owl eating a seed-eating mouse is an example of a

secondary consumer. Signup and view all the answers

Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, is a beautiful, long-stemmed wetlands species brought to the United States from Europe as an ornamental plant. In the United States, it has no predators and crowds out cattails, Typha latifolia, another wetlands plant that's a valuable resource for many species. Purple loosestrife is an example of

an introduced species. Signup and view all the answers

Of the four hypotheses that explain the origin of modern organisms, which is the one with the least scientific support?

the static hypothesis. Signup and view all the answers

The North Atlantic Right Whale, Eubalaena glacialis, was called the 'right whale' because they were the best whale for early whalers to kill. They have long baleen and lots of blubber and oil. When killed, they could be towed back to land for processing because they float. They once numbered in the millions, but the entire population of the species is now less than 400. The history of the right whale is an example of

overexploitation. Signup and view all the answers

The variety of species in an area of interest is called

biodiversity. Signup and view all the answers

Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, is situated on land that was once a fen, a kind of wetland. The replacement of the fen is an example of

habitat destruction. Signup and view all the answers

Why might Archaea be more difficult to grow in the lab than Bacteria?

Archaea often grow in unusual environments that would be hard to reproduce in the lab. Signup and view all the answers

Taxol is a well-known anticancer chemical. Taxol was obtained from a species of the following group?

Plantae. Signup and view all the answers

Many lines of evidence suggest that human populations aren't distinct races. What keeps us so similar even though adaptations to local conditions have occurred?

Members of different populations mate with each other. Signup and view all the answers

When a population grows larger than the carrying capacity, then

death rates rise. Signup and view all the answers

You read that two populations of hyenas are different subspecies. Which of the following would be true of the two populations?

They could produce fertile offspring. Signup and view all the answers

What causes the disease tuberculosis?

a particular type of bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

A population has reached carrying capacity of the environment when

the environment can't support a further increase in the population. Signup and view all the answers

Over the past two centuries, the growth of the human population has

increased exponentially. Signup and view all the answers

The most important reason that one can see evolution in a population of mosquitoes more easily than one can see evolution in a population of squirrels is because mosquitoes

have a shorter generation time. Signup and view all the answers

When geographic isolation occurs, under what conditions might you expect the most rapid speciation?

When the climate is very different in the two locations. Signup and view all the answers

What would happen if a mutation created a new allele that decreased fitness?

The new allele would decrease the fitness of the individual that possessed it, and that individual would have few or no offspring. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following lists events in the proper order to reflect how natural selection works in a population of lice that could originally be controlled by permethrin?

Some lice are resistant to permethrin; permethrin is used to kill lice; lice resistant to permethrin become the most common type. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following plants is the most fit?

Fitness can't be determined without reference to the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a virus?

a non-living particle. Signup and view all the answers

Cattle egrets hitch a ride on domestic cows and eat insects that are stirred up by their activity. This is an example of

commensalism. Signup and view all the answers

Your friend was diagnosed with strep throat 2 months ago. She was treated with antibiotics for 10 days, but 2 weeks after treatment, the symptoms returned. She was given a different antibiotic and her symptoms improved again, initially, but then got worse. What is happening?

Your friend was originally infected with some bacteria that were resistant to these two antibiotics and the bacteria multiplied. Signup and view all the answers

As the Industrial Revolution took place, there was a decrease in infant mortality, resulting in

an increase in the population growth rate. Signup and view all the answers

Why are companies particularly interested in bioprospecting?

Companies hope to discover a species that contains an enzyme or another protein that can be marketed. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT part of the theory of natural selection?

All species are descended from a common ancestor. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is a true statement about viruses?

False Signup and view all the answers

A primary source for new, unique genes in a population is

mutation. Signup and view all the answers

After a rapid change in climate, one population of birds quickly adapts to the change, but others in the area do not. What could you conclude about the quickly adapting population?

They already had some alleles in their genome that were adaptive in the new environment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes mechanical reproductive isolation?

Two fly species have differently shaped genitals that prevent interspecies mating. Signup and view all the answers

What is it about macroevolution that people find controversial?

the common descent of all organisms from one ancestral cell. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following occurs after the creation of a new allele?

The gene pool becomes more diverse. Signup and view all the answers

A population of birch trees is present on the side of a mountain and is preyed upon by beetles that burrow into the bark. Which of the following trees would be the most fit?

a tree that has thicker bark. Signup and view all the answers

In a population, which individuals are most likely to survive and reproduce?

the individuals who are best adapted to the environment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following experiments would not be considered an ecological study?

the effect of a hormone on the rate of blood vessel formation. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the now-discredited theories of Lamarck?

Organisms acquire traits during their lifetime and pass those traits on to their offspring. Signup and view all the answers

An organism that is multicellular and makes its own food would be classified in which kingdom?

kingdom Plantae. Signup and view all the answers

One species of plant produces flowers when nights are 10 hours long. A related species comes into flower when nights are 9 hours long. This is an example of

temporal isolation. Signup and view all the answers

When a population of organisms is evolving, what can you be sure is happening?

It's changing. Signup and view all the answers

The eggs released by sponges during reproduction have proteins on their surface that prevent sperm from different species from binding to the eggs. This is an example of

gamete incompatibility. Signup and view all the answers

Is it possible to prevent bacteria from becoming resistant to antibiotics?

False Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following must be an assumption of the mark-recapture method?

few individuals enter or leave the study area during the period between mark and recapture. Signup and view all the answers

The sudden loss of a ________________ would necessarily cause the loss of most or all of a food web.

keystone species. Signup and view all the answers

What causes the reproductive isolation that can lead to speciation?

Members of one group are unable to make fertile offspring with other groups. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a density-dependent factor?

increase in waste production. Signup and view all the answers

The evenly spaced distribution of stalks of corn planted in an agricultural field is considered

a uniform distribution. Signup and view all the answers

The current rapid loss of species is considered by many scientists to be another mass extinction. This increase in extinction rate, beyond background extinction, is thought to be due to

human population growth and the resulting habitat changes worldwide. Signup and view all the answers

The hypothesis of punctuated equilibrium suggests that

there have been periods of dramatic evolutionary change separated by long periods of no change. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be considered bioprospecting?

studying a sample of earthworm skin for antibacterial properties. Signup and view all the answers

In what type of population would evolution occur most rapidly?

a small population with a relatively limited gene pool. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of microevolution?

HIV evolved resistance to antiviral medications. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Human Fossils and Species Classification

Human fossils are classified into species based on skeletal differences.

Polyploidy and Reproductive Isolation

Polyploidy alters chromosome numbers in sex cells, leading to reproductive isolation.

Vestigial Structures

Nonfunctional wings of ostriches serve as evidence for the theory of common descent, classified as vestigial structures.

Mule Reproduction

Mules are infertile and cannot produce eggs or sperm, preventing them from having offspring.

Behavioral Isolation Example

Female spiders exhibit behavioral isolation by only mating when specific web-tapping behaviors occur from male spiders of the same species.

Distribution of Red Maple Trees

The wind dispersal of red maple trees' seeds and their presence in various ecosystems exemplifies random distribution.

Darwin's Influences

Darwin was significantly influenced by observing slight organismal differences on nearby islands.

Education and Family Size

A college-educated woman is less likely to have a large family compared to one with only an eighth-grade education.

Similarity within Taxonomic Levels

The genus level contains the most similar members among taxonomic classifications.

Salamander Population Study

Mark and recapture efforts revealed that a 20 recaptured salamanders indicated a total population of about 2000 in the pool.

Geological Influence on Evolution

Charles Lyell influenced Darwin's thinking by proposing that gradual changes shape Earth's features.

Inbreeding Depression and Potato Crops

The 1846 "Lumper" potato crop failure in Ireland was attributed to inbreeding depression.

Population Stability and Carrying Capacity

A stable population of spotted salamanders indicates that the carrying capacity of their environment has been reached.

Habitat Fragmentation

Mountain lions are particularly threatened by habitat fragmentation.

Cambrian Explosion

The Cambrian explosion marked the appearance of multicellular animals in Earth's history.

Ecological Studies

Ecological studies involve comparing varying environmental conditions, such as water temperature effects on fish egg development.

Niche Definition

A species' role in its ecosystem is referred to as its niche.

Natural Selection Mechanism

Natural selection is illustrated through leg length variations in a mammal population adapting to changing environments.

Keystone Species Impact

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park exemplifies how keystone species can dramatically affect ecosystem dynamics.

Definition of Evolution

Evolution occurs through differences in reproductive fitness among individuals.

Allele Definition

An allele represents a specific version of a gene.

Artificial vs. Natural Selection

Artificial selection is driven by human preference, while natural selection relies on environmental conditions.

Speciation Steps

Speciation follows the sequence of geographic isolation, evolutionary changes, and reproductive isolation.

Pharmaceutical Discoveries

Companies benefit monetarily from discovering pharmaceutically important compounds in species like rainforest trees.

Threats to Biodiversity

Habitat loss and degradation present the greatest threat to biodiversity.

Current Taxonomic Classifications

In recent classifications, bacteria are considered the most distinct from other groups.

Mass Extinctions

Historically, there have been five mass extinctions on a global scale preceding the current alarming extinction rates.

Archaea Characteristics

Organisms thriving in extreme environments belong to the archaeal domain.

Genetic Diversity across Human Groups

Analyses reveal no race-specific alleles, demonstrating that human groups share a common genetic background.

Mutualistic Relationships

Ants and bull's horn acacia trees demonstrate mutualism through protective and nutritional interactions.

Postfertilization Barriers

These barriers lead to offspring that fail to develop, impacting reproductive success.

Ecological Roles

Owls acting as secondary consumers exemplify the role of predators in food webs.

Invasive Species

Purple loosestrife serves as an example of an introduced species that disrupts native species like cattails.

Theories of Organism Origin

Among hypotheses explaining the origin of modern organisms, the static hypothesis lacks scientific support.

Overexploitation Example

The North Atlantic Right Whale exemplifies overexploitation, with the population reduced to fewer than 400 individuals.

Biodiversity Definition

Biodiversity refers to the variety of species in a given area.

Habitat Destruction

Fenway Park's establishment on previously wetland land exemplifies habitat destruction.

Cultivating Archaea

Archaea are challenging to grow in labs due to their adaptation to extreme environments.

Taxol Source

Taxol, an anticancer drug, is sourced from species within the Plantae kingdom.

Human Populations and Interbreeding

Interbreeding among different human populations keeps genetic variations consistent despite local adaptations.

Carrying Capacity Implications

When populations exceed carrying capacity, death rates will rise.

Subspecies Fertility

Variations between hyena populations classified as different subspecies can still produce fertile offspring.

Tuberculosis Causation

Tuberculosis results from infection by a specific type of bacteria.

Environmental Support Limits

A population reaches carrying capacity when the environment cannot sustain further growth.

Human Population Trends

The last two centuries have seen exponential growth in human populations.

Evolution Observation in Mosquitoes

Quick evolutionary changes in mosquitoes are easier to observe than in other animals due to shorter generation times.

Speciation and Isolation

Rapid speciation following geographic isolation typically occurs when climates differ significantly between locations.

Mutation Effects on Alleles

A new allele that reduces fitness will likely result in fewer offspring for the individual that possesses it.

Natural Selection in Lice

The sequence of events reflecting natural selection in lice involves resistance development to permethrin after exposure.

Contextual Fitness in Plants

Determining plant fitness requires context regarding its environment.

Virus Characteristics

Viruses are defined as non-living particles that utilize host cells for replication.

Commensalism

Cattle egrets benefiting from riding on cows exemplify the relationship of commensalism.

Antibiotic Resistance

Post-treatment, your friend's reinfection suggests the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Population Mark-Recapture Assumptions

A key assumption in the mark-recapture method is minimal migration of individuals in and out of the study area.

Keystone Species and Food Webs

The sudden loss of a keystone species can lead to extensive disruption of food webs.

Speciation and Fertility

Reproductive isolation leading to speciation occurs when groups cannot produce fertile offspring.

Density-dependent Factors

An increase in waste production serves as a density-dependent factor affecting population dynamics.

Uniform Distribution in Agriculture

The arranged planting of corn stalks represents a uniform distribution pattern.

Current Extinction Rates

Many scientists link rapid species loss to human population growth and associated habitat changes.

Punctuated Equilibrium Hypothesis

Punctuated equilibrium suggests rapid evolutionary changes are interspersed with prolonged periods of stability.

Bioprospecting Activities

Investigating earthworm skin for antibacterial traits is an example of bioprospecting.

Rapid Evolution Scenarios

Small populations with limited gene pools exhibit rapid evolution.

Microevolution Case Study

Resistance of HIV to antiviral treatments exemplifies microevolutionary processes.

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