Adaptations for Natural Selection (Evolution)

Brazil nuts are tall canopy trees that make up a large portion of the Amazon rain forest. They produce large grape-sized seedpods. The agouti, a ground-dwelling rodent, has teeth strong enough to open the tough seedpods. While the agouti eats some of the tree's seeds, it also buries caches in various spots on the rain forest floor. Why is the agouti important to the rain forest ecosystem? A. It eats and disperses the trees' seeds. B. It eats the trees' excess seeds and prevents other animals from doing so. C. It cleans the rain forest floor of debris, allowing for easier motility. D. It prevents the trees' seeds from rotting on the rain forest floor.

A

The Indian leaf butterfly has traits that allow it to resemble a leaf. The bright colors of the monarch butterfly indicate that the butterfly tastes bad and can be poisonous. How does the appearance of these butterflies help them to survive? A. The Indian leaf butterfly is able to avoid predators while the monarch butterfly warns predators away. B. The Indian leaf butterfly frightens predators away while the monarch butterfly poisons predators before they can eat it. C. Both butterflies rely on camouflage to avoid predation. D. Both butterflies cooperate with one another to avoid predation.

A

What is an adaptation?

A change in structures or behaviors, often inherited, that improves an organism's ability to survive.

What is phototropism?

A growth response to light. Plants move with the sun in order to capture as much sun energy as they can for the process of photosynthesis.

What is a structural adaptation?

A physical adaptation. Features an organism has such as fur, beaks etc.

Mimicry

Ability of an animal to look like another more harmful animal. The coral snake is very deadly to predators. The king snake has adapted bands of color to make it look like the coral snake so predators will not prey on it.

How have living organisms adapted to obtain food?

Animals have adapted certain features that allow them to more easily to obtain food. For example, giraffes have long necks to reach leaves high in trees. Hawks have curved beaks to catch small prey.

Most plants have hair-like cells called trichomes that protect from the surface and help the plant in many ways. In some plants trichomes secrete toxic substances that most likely perform which function- A. Absorb carbon dioxide B. Protect against herbivorous insects. C. Reflect light off leaves. D. Reduce water loss from evaporation.

B

Scientist estimate that there are more than 20,000 species of ants. The species range in size from 1 mm long to 38 mm long and live in most environments. The diets of ants range from flowers and seeds to fluids from their own larvae. Ants have been able to successfully inhabit so many different environments because their populations have been able to- A. hybridize with other species of insects. B. adapt to a variety of habitats and food sources. C. fill niches usually filled by mammals. D. occupy habitats that have no other life-forms.

B

Some hummingbirds eat small insects as well as plant nectar. Why is this adaptation advantageous? A.There are more competitors for nectar. B.There are more sources of food. C.Similarity to other birds allows them to get close to insects such as bees. D.Less of a food supply for predators of these hummingbirds.

B

Some species of millipedes will roll into a ball when threatened, while other species of millipedes can secrete noxious chemicals from their bodies. These adaptations allow millipedes to- A. survive in different temperatures. B. Avoid different types of predators. C. conserve different amounts of energy. D. blend into different types of environments.

B

Survival of the fittest can best be described as - A. the process by which only the strongest of a species will be able to survive and reproduce B. the process in which organisms that are better adapted to their environment will have a better chance of surviving and reproducing C. the reason the strongest of the species will not be able to reproduce as often as others D. the reason weaker organisms in a species will always be killed by predators

B

What conclusion can be drawn from the following statements regarding adaptation of organisms? 1. Variation exists among individuals in a population. 2. Genes are passed from one generation to the next. 3. Speciation occurs when variation occurs over time in geographic isolation. A. Organisms adapt to changes in the environment on an individual basis. B. Adaptation leads to change in a species. C. Variation is caused by a single factor. D. Species only adapt when they make the decision to adapt.

B

A population of trees has various heights. Shorter trees have leaves and flowers that are within reach for herbivores to eat. The adaptation that allows the trees to grow taller would be an example of natural selection if it helps them ― A. increase the number of mutations in their DNA B. increase the lifespan of each individual tree C. increase the chances of surviving to produce offspring D. increase the odds of producing genes for short trees

C

Adaptations that result from natural selection are expected to increase the fitness of an organism. In terms of natural selection, which of the following best describes fitness? A. being able to escape from predators. B. being among the strongest organisms in a population. C. Being able to survive, find a mate, and produce offspring. D. Being able to survive long enough to reach the adult age stage.

C

Monarch butterflies are a type of Milkweed butterfly that belongs to the family Nymphalidae. Many butterflies, including Monarchs, eat plants that have bitter or poisonous juices, which make them taste bad to their predators. The organisms advertise their bad taste with their bright colored wings, something known as "warning coloration". Based on this information, how has adaptation allowed monarch butterflies to be successful? A.They can fly fast enough to avoid predators and can spend more time sleeping. B.They have an easier time attracting good mates and can make more offspring. C.They are not attacked by predators and can reproduce successfully. D.They can camouflage into their environment and can live longer.

C

What is a physiological adaptation?

Changes in an organism's metabolic processes or chemical activities.

The tiaga biome has cold winters, warm summers, and moderated precipitation. How have trees adapted to this kind of biome?

Cone-bearing evergreen trees are better adapted to this biome because they can perform photosynthesis as soon as temperatures are warm enough. This is important since the growing season is very short. Most trees have needle-like leaves that reduce water loss, a waxy coating to prevent evaporation, and are dark color to increase the absorption of solar heat.

A new predator of rabbits has been introduced within an ecosystem. The new predator runs faster than the native predators of rabbits. Which statement describes what will most likely occur in the rabbit population due to the introduction of the predator? A. The rabbits will mutate their genes and express genes that will increase their speed. B. Slower rabbits will develop stronger legs and pass this trait to their offspring. C. Rabbits will mate and produce offspring with a different species of rabbit that has faster runners. D. Faster rabbits will survive and reproduce increasing the average speed of the rabbit population.

D

Darwin's theory of natural selection is often referred to as survival of the fittest. Which statement most accurately reflects "fitness" according to Darwin's natural selection? A. Fitness is the measure of an individual organism's adaptability to various habitats in an environment. B. Fitness reflects the ability of an organism to run faster and hide better, or to hunt and kill more efficiently. C. Fitness refers to the relative health of each individual in the population so he or she could survive diseases. D. Fitness is an individual organism's reproductive success in surviving and producing viable offspring.

D

The temperate grasslands, also known as prairies, have hot summers, cold winters, and frequent droughts and fires. How have plants adapted to live in the grassland biome?

Grasses have adapted to have narrow leaves to prevent water loss and to from their base instead of their tips so that they are not permanently damaged during a fire. Grasses have soft stems that bend easily in the wind and extensive root systems that prevent grazing animals from pulling them out by their roots.

The temperate deciduous forest have 4 distinct seasons ranging from hot during the summer and below freezing in the winter. How have trees in the temperate deciduous forest adapted to this kind of biome?

Most trees of the forest have thick bark to protect them during the cold temperatures and broad leaves to increase the amount of sunlight for photosynthesis. The trees also usually lose their leaves during the winter months to decrease water loss.

Plants that grow in an aquatic environment must develop adaptations that allow them to survive in these conditions. What are some adaptations of plants that live in aquatic environments?

Often plants grow on top of the water only contain chlorophyll in the top part of their leaves because sunlight only hits the top part of the leaf.

How have some animals adapted for protection within their environment?

One major way is through camouflage. This is an adaptation in which an animals appearance helps it blend into it's environment.

The tundra biome is cold year-round and has a permanently frozen sub-layer of soil called permafrost that plant roots can not penetrate. The tundra receives very little rain and has poor drainage. How have plants adapted to this type of environment?

Plant are usually small, low-growing, and are often dark in color to absorb heat. Mosses, grasses, and sedges are covered in hair to keep them warm or grow in clumps to protect one another from the wind and cold temperatures. Trees and other large plants cannot grow in the biome because they have deep root systems that can not penetrate the permafrost.

Desert biomes are often hot and very dry. How have plants found in the desert biomes adapted to these kinds of conditions?

Plants frequently have waxy, hairy, or spiny outer surfaces that reduce water loss. Plants often lack leaves. Plant have long root systems that go deep into the ground.

How have plants adapted to obtain food?

Plants have adapted by making their own food through a process called photosynthesis, so they need sunlight. Plants have adapted in ways to make sure that they always grow in the direction of the sun to increase the amount of sunlight they receive, this is called "phototropism".

How have some animals responded to changes in the availability of food?

Some animals store food for the winter; for example squirrels will store nuts for the winter. Other animals will hibernate during the winter for periods of time when there is little food is available; for example bears, bats and hedgehogs.

How do animals adapt to environmental changes?

The ability of an organism to survive in am environment depends on that organism's physical and behavioral adaptations. An animal's adaptations must match the environmental conditions in which it lives to ensure it's survival.

Camouflage

The act of concealing the identity of something by modifying its appearance.

Mimicry in butterflies.

The monarch butterfly has a horrible toxic taste to predators that try to eat it. The viceroy butterfly has adapted the same color pattern of the monarch butterfly so predators will not eat them.

What is a behavioral adaptation?

The way an animal acts or behaves to stay alive in response to the changes in it's environment.

Rain forests are hot and receive between 80 to 140 inches of rainfall per year. This abundance of water promotes bacterial and fungal growth on plants, increases the risk of flooding, and erodes soil. What are some adaptations found by plants in the rain forest?

Trees have adapted by developing smooth thin bark that allows water to run off more easily, this smooth bark makes it less likely for bacteria and fungi to grow on trees. Plants that live in the tropical rainforest are adapted to grow on other plants in order to reach sunlight. Many plants also have shallow root systems to capture nutrients from the top layer of soil.