Bio 2500 Exam Questions

Animals that hibernate can be found in the _____ biome.

(they can be found in any biome)

Competition can affect: A. geographic distribution B. evolutionary change C. All of these are possible. D. population distribution and abundance

C. All of these are possible.

Which of the following is not found in the non-coding region of the genome? A. Intron B. RNA genes C. Exon D. Mobile genetic elements

C. Exon

Which is considered to be the oldest evidence of cultural behavior in early hominins? A. archaeological evidence of settlements B. increased brain size C. Oldowan tools D. cave paintings

C. Oldowan tools

Which of the following general type of prey adaptations work to prevent a prey's capture by scaring its predator? A. Camouflage B. Disrupt C. Startle D. Warn

C. Startle

According to the SLOSS debate, which of the following is preferred? A. A strict barrier to exclude humans rather than an integration buffer zone. B. Several individual reserves independently managed. C. A uniform habitat, rather than one that encompasses diverse habitats. D. A mix of large and small reserves, rather than only large reserves.

D. A mix of large and small reserves, rather than only large reserves.

Which of the following is not an ecological change due to human activity? A. Removal of apex predators from the food web. B. Local extinction events associated with migration. C. Degradation of habitats. D. All of these are ecological changes caused by humans.

D. All of these are ecological changes caused by humans.

A parasite can change an ecological community by: A. attacking the dominant competitor, causing other species to increase in abundance. B. changing the outcome of species interactions. C. altering the physical environment. D. All of these are potential consequences of parasitism.

D. All of these are potential consequences of parasitism.

Which of the following is not an example of intrasexual selection? A. Male Northern elephant seals show extreme variation in reproductive success due to differences in rank. B. Marine isopod males can be alpha (aggressive, territorial), beta (non-aggressive, somewhat territorial), and gamma (small, sneaker male). The male's tactic determines reproductive success. C. Male elk use vocal and visual assessments to determine if they will physically compete for a female. D. Female swordtail fish prefer males with longer swords (caudal fin extensions).

D. Female swordtail fish prefer males with longer swords (caudal fin extensions).

Why does uplift occur at the equator?

Intense solar radiation causes warm temperatures at the equator and warm air masses rise.

In Connell's (1961) study of barnacle distribution, it was found that Semibalanus balanoides adults would exclude Chthamalus stellatus adults from all but the upper intertidal zone by smothering or crushing the animal. What is taking place here?

Interference competition

How does glucose act as a cryoprotectant in American wood frogs and boreal chorus frogs?

It lowers the freezing point for water inside the cells.

Who recognized that evolutionary change appeared to be slow and his worked inspired another scientist to propose the idea of uniformitarianism.

James Hutton

Who said that organisms could acquire modifications over their lifetime and pass those modifications on to their offspring?

Jean Baptiste-Lamarck

Who is known as the father of stratigraphy?

Nicolas Steno

Which of the following is not true about the ecological consequences of dust storms? A. It is impossible for dust storms to transport pathogens over long distances. B. African dust storms deposit important nutrients in the Amazon basin. C. Asian dust storms have been associated with algal blooms in the Pacific. D. Florida's ecosystems are not impacted by dust storms originating in Africa.

D. Florida's ecosystems are not impacted by dust storms originating in Africa.

Which of the following is not true of genetic drift? A. Genetic drift, if prolonged, promotes inbreeding depression and extinction B. Genetic drifts happens more often in a small population C. Genetic drift decreases genetic variation D. Genetic drift causes genetic variation to increase randomly

D. Genetic drift causes genetic variation to increase randomly

Snakes have multiple adaptations that benefit them as a predator. Which of the following is not one them? A. Venom B. Recurved teeth C. Distensible jaw D. Mimicry

D. Mimicry

Which of the following is not true, based on the optimal foraging theory? A. Predators with long handling times relative to their search time should be specialists. B. It is always best for predators to be specialists. C. Predators with short handling times relative to search times should be generalists. D. Predators should be generalists in productive environments.

D. Predators should be generalists in productive environments.

Which of the following observations led ecologists to conclude that resource limitation is not the only factor driving snowshoe hare population cycles? A. Experimental addition of high quality food prevents hare populations from declining. B. Hare reproductive rates peak several years before densities reach a maximum. C. Hare body condition continued to decline even when population abundance declined. D. Some declining hare populations do not lack food.

D. Some declining hare populations do not lack food.

Which of the following conditions would promote the formation of a fossil? A. presence of oxygen B. presence of water C. presence of scavengers D. the organism quickly covered in sediment

D. the organism quickly covered in sediment

Which of the following would indicate that two traits are analogous rather than homologous? A. they are similar in appearance B. the organisms have similar habitats C. the traits evolved around the same time D. the structure differ in degrees of complexity

D. the structure differ in degrees of complexity

___________ is related to species occurrence over geographic area, while ___________ relates to species numbers in a defined area.

Distribution; abundance

The desert ironwood can act as a nurse plant for upwards of 165 different species. The germinating seeds of these species benefit from the shady, cooler environment while ironwood is neither benefited nor harmed. This is an example of:

Facultative commensalism

Only marine organisms with a calcium carbonate skeleton are affected by ocean acidification. (T/F)

False

T/F: In logistic growth of a population, as soon as a population reaches K, growth will always stop. There is no overshoot or fluctuation around K.

False

T/F: Lucy was the first hominin to demonstrate bipedality.

False

T/F: Our species, Homo sapiens, descended from Homo ergaster, after the species first migrated out of Africa around 1.75 MYA.

False

Some species, such as the sea palm, benefit from disturbance in the habitat. A characteristic of these types of species are that they disperse throughout the environment and occupy temporary openings. What is the term applied to such organisms?

Fugitive species

Trade-offs...

1) frequently occurs as investment in an organism's size versus the number of offspring it produces 2) allow organisms to allocate limited energy or resources to one structure or function at the expense of the other.

A colony of naked mole rats currently has 142 members. The queen has, on average, 40 pups each year while about 50 members die. It is not uncommon for new individuals to join the colony, usually about 20, but members rarely leave (on average 5). What is the estimated new population size?

147

In which body of water would you most likely observe distinct stratification? A. A large lake during the summer. B. A small pond in the winter. C. A small pond in the summer. D. A large lake during the winter.

A. A large lake during the summer.

Which example is of a prezygotic barrier? A. A male shark deposits sperm in a female but the sperm fail to attach to her eggs B. A mouse hybrid does not produce viable gametes C. The hybrid of two species of crocodile cannot obtain a mate D. A hybrid of two fruit fly species does not hatch (survive)

A. A male shark deposits sperm in a female but the sperm fail to attach to her eggs

As climate changes, organisms will migrate to survive. Which organism is most likely to survive changes in its climate? A. A tree species at the northern edge of its current range. B. A butterfly species living on the side of a mountain. C. Flightless animals that are indigenous to small islands. D. Beach-nesting birds.

A. A tree species at the northern edge of its current range.

Which statement about inbreeding is true? A. All statements are true B. Inbreeding can affect the fitness of an individual C. Inbreeding is a concern to conservation biologists D. Inbreeding can result in a deleterious allele reaching fixation

A. All statements are true

Which of the following is an example of an adaptation for an animal that feeds on solid, food masses? A. Dentition (teeth) B. Structures for filtering C. Haustellate (sucking) mouthparts D. Trichomes

A. Dentition (teeth)

How does adaptive radiation relate to macroevolution?

Adaptive radiation causes a single lineage to diversity into multiple species or lineages, with each exploiting different ecology resources.

What do all parasites have in common?

All parasites live in or on host organisms.

A major threat to many of our ecosystems is deforestation; however, this is most pronounced in the tropics. The Amazon rainforest covers over 2 million square-miles, produces roughly 20% of Earth's oxygen, and holds 20% of the world's fresh water. As deforestation continues, how will the physical environment be impacted? What will this do to both the global and regional climate? How does this relate to the larger issue of climate change? Be specific in your answer.

As deforestation continues, the vegetation levels will decrease which will lead to a decrease in evapotranspiration. This in turn will increase the albedo of the area and raise regional temperatures. The decrease in evapotranspiration will also lead to a decrease in water vapor in that area which can disrupt the global water cycle. Regionally, there will be an increase in temperatures as a result of increased albedo, and a decrease in evapotranspiration. There will also be an increase in erosion because the trees are no longer there to hold the soil in place. Globally, the decrease of water vapor in that region can disrupt the global water cycle. For the Amazon, freshwater levels will decrease and it will not be able to produce as much oxygen, which will be detrimental to life on Earth.

Which scenario demonstrates the indirect benefits hypothesis for female mate choice? A. A female chooses a male with the best territory. B. A female chooses a male based on coloration, indicating good genes. C. A female chooses a male who will provide parental care. D. A female chooses a male she thinks is good based on a deceiving trait.

B. A female chooses a male based on coloration, indicating good genes.

Which of the following is an advantage that endoparasites have over ectoparasites (select all that apply)? A. Ease of dispersal. B. Ease of feeding. C. Protection from the outside environment. D. Less susceptibility to attack from the host's immune system.

B. Ease of feeding; C. Protection from the outside environment.

Which of the following would not be considered evidence of homology? A. Hair in mammals B. Flight in birds and bats C. Fingernails in primates D. The human appendix

B. Flight in birds and bats

Which of the following is not a characteristic used to describe life history? A. Timing of reproduction B. Size at death C. Age at sexual maturity D. Number of offspring produced

B. Size at death

Which of the following is NOT an example of antagonistic pleiotropy? A. The aging gene associated with aging in Drosophila causes either high fecundity but a decreased lifespan B. The frizzle gene in chickens results in feathers that curl outward and a greater digestive capacity C. The p53 gene averts cancer by preventing cells with damaging DNA from reproducing but also prohibits stem cells from reproducing D. The Ester1 allele in mosquitoes confers resistance to pesticides but also results in a higher probability that the mosquito is caught in a spider's web

B. The frizzle gene in chickens results in feathers that curl outward and a greater digestive capacity

Sexual selection is acting when: A. all organisms in a population have equal reproductive success. B. Two answers are correct. C. some individuals reproduce more than others based on certain inherited characteristics. D. there is sexual dimorphism in a population.

B. Two answers are correct.

Which of the following is not an example of an exaptation? A. The hooked beak of the kea being used to rip fat from living sheep. B. Venom in gastropods, fish, and snakes being used to subdue prey. C. Feathers in dinosaurs originally function in insulation then being used for flight. D. In some plants, resin that was initially used to attract pollinators is instead used to deter florivores (flower-eaters).

B. Venom in gastropods, fish, and snakes being used to subdue prey.

Which of the following would be an example of the bottleneck effect? A. the elongation of the giraffe's neck in response to decreasing shrub and forest habitat that left only clumps of tall trees scattered over the savanna B. a dramatic decline in the genetic variation in the wild Cheetah population, probably following a mass die off C. the rapid increase in numbers of mammal species following the extinction of the dinosaurs (many niches were left open for the mammals to fill) D. industrial melanism - the peppered moths changing color when the coal-covered trees made the light individuals more susceptible to predation by birds

B. a dramatic decline in the genetic variation in the wild Cheetah population, probably following a mass die off

Which of the following is not an example of evolution? A. beak size in a population of birds becomes larger from one generation to the next because larger beaked birds had higher reproductive success and passed the trait to their offspring B. all are examples of evolution C. over long periods of time whales gradually lost their hindlimbs D. when traveling to high altitude, human physiology changes to accommodate lower oxygen levels over time

B. all are examples of evolution

Which of the following is not a reason for the current exponential growth of the human population? A. more likely to survive to reproductive age B. an overall increase in Earth's resources C. increased migration D. longer life spans

B. an overall increase in Earth's resources

One result of the anthropogenic change to the carbon cycle is ocean acidification. Which organism would you expect to be the most negatively impacted by this? A. sharks B. clams C. sea slugs D. jellyfish

B. clams

In which type of macroevolution do we expect to find transitional fossils? A. dispersal B. phyletic gradualism C. punctuated equilibrium D. vicariance

B. phyletic gradualism

A harmless cuckoo bee looks nearly identical to a harmful yellow jacket. What is this an example of?

Batesian mimicry

Why do extinction and origination rates tend to correlate with one another?

Because when an extinction event occurs, organisms are able to exploit new resources or habitats, which leads to origination.

Where, specifically, is the biosphere?

Between the lithosphere and troposphere.

Why do we rarely see a constant K (carrying capacity)?

Birth rates vary over time.

Why does the actual distribution of a species differ from its potential distribution?

Potential distribution does not factor in biological interactions

What is the term for the restricted set of conditions that an organism can occupy, in part due to species interactions?

Realized niche

Caribbean anoles are famous for their ecomorphs, which have resulted from the anoles occupying different parts of a habitat in order to reduce competition for a shared resource. What term best describes this scenario?

Resource partitioning

Aphids and ants have a special relationship. The ants provide the aphids with protection against ladybug predators. And to repay this, the aphids feed the ants their sugar-rich honeydew (....or poop). What type of mutualism best describes this relationship?

Service mutualism

An example of phyletic gradualism is:

The evolution of limbs from fins shows a gradual rearrangement of the bones, with many transitions, until we arrive at the homologous bones of modern day tetrapods.

An example of an anti-predator behavior is:

Vigilance

Adaptation is different from acclimatization because:

adaptation is a long term process by comparison.

What type of speciation results from populations being geographically isolated from one another?

allopatric speciation

What is microevolution?

the observable change in the allele frequencies of a population over time

Although it makes up only about 11% Earth's terrestrial vegeaion cover, the _____ biome is home to approximately two-thirds of all plants and animals.

tropical rainforest

Hairs that grows on whales and humans:

were present in the most recent common ancestor of humans and whales

The rainshadow effect is responsible for deserts and grasslands on the _____ side of the U.S. Rocky Mountains.

western

How has climate acted as a selective pressure on the evolution of Darwin's finches?

when climate changes, certain seeds become more abundant and natural selection favors the birds with beaks that match the abundant food source

Many species of butterflies that are noxious to predators also have bright red coloration. This feature, which functions as a signal to potential predators that eating them will be unpleasant or harmful, is an example of _______ coloration.

aposematic

A researcher who wants to estimate the abundance on an immobile species will use:

area-based counts

If tadpoles of spadefoot toads are fed shrimp and other tadpoles, they will most likely develop into the _______ morph and thus will likely have an advantage in _______ pools.

carnivore; ephemeral

Animals, such as sea stars, have a ______ because they go through ______, which is marked by abrupt transitions.

complex life cycle; metamorphosis

As density increases within a population you would anticipate that the population growth would ____________, while density - independent factors may cause the population to_______________.

decrease; increase or decrease

Evapotranspiration: (increases or decreases albedo)

decreases albedo.

In the squirrel lineage, two types of tails are favored. Either a short tail that helps when hiding from predators on the ground or a long tail that is beneficial for balance up in a tree. This is an example of:

disruptive selection

A powerful ice storm in 1998 felled a large proportion of trees across much of northern New England, New York State, and southeast Canada. Although the storm led to declines in abundance for many species of birds, it created opportunities for other bird species. With regard to its effects on the abundance of bird species, the 1998 storm would be considered a ________.

disturbance event

A few birds of a population that previously fed on blueberries started to feed on honeysuckle. Due to genetic differences accumulated as the birds adapted to feeding on honeysuckle, these "honeysuckle" birds now breed earlier than the ancestral birds. This is most likely a case of the early stages of speciation brought about by:

ecological isolation (habitat differentiation)

What kind of mutation is shown below?

frameshift mutation

The greater sage grouse is a species of gamebird. The Illinois population became particularly threatened as a results of westward expansion in the 1800s followed by large-scale agricultural development. As a result of habitat loss, each successive generation experienced increased mortality and disease, resulting in an extinction vortex. To rescue this population, wildlife biologists enacted measures that employed a specific mechanism of evolutionary change. Which one was it?

gene flow

Under what condition would a mutation or change in gene expression be inherited by offspring?

germline mutation

What term best applies to the relationship between pistol shrimps and some species of goby, in which the goby provides suitable shelter for the shrimp and the shrimp warns the fish of potential danger?

habitat mutualism

As discussed in class, chest shape in primates represents a (blank) which is further evidence of evolution.

homologous structure

In eutrophic waters, algal growth is _____, leading to _____ decomposition rates and thus _____ levels of oxygen.

increased; higher; lower

Ecology is generally define as the study of an organism's:

interactions with its biotic and abiotic environment.

A mature RNA transcript differs from a primary RNA transcript because:

introns are spliced out of the mature transcript

A postzygotic barrier:

is due to errors that prevents the proper development of the zygote

Carnivory in plants has evolved multiple times. This trait has been favored, specifically, because:

it reduces competition for nitrogen and phosphorus, which are limited in these ecosystems.

Which trait is associated with a K-selected species?

long-lived

Paternal care is most likely when:

males are more certain of paternity.

Toxoplasma gondii parasites typically use __________ as intermediate hosts?

mammals

When an endotherm experiences an extended period of cold temperatures and cannot maintain a high metabolism to meet the heat demands, it will:

reduce metabolism and enter a state of torpor.

The study by Hudson and colleagues of red grouse and their nematode parasite showed that removal of the parasite:

reduced the fluctuations of the grouse population.

What is the dominant vegetation type(s) of the tundra?

sedges, mosses, and lichens

Ozone in the _____ is beneficial because it acts as a shield that blocks mainly _____ radiation.

stratosphere; ultraviolet-B

Why are stromatolites accepted as the oldest evidence of life at 3.45 BYO?

stromatolites are formed by colonies of photosynthetic bacteria

What do we call a trait that originated in a taxon's ancestor?

synapomorphy

Which prezygotic barrier prevents mating due to differences in the timing of reproduction?

temporal isolation

In the process of natural selection:

the environment determines which are the most advantageous (well adapted) characters, and favors survival of individuals carrying those alleles

Dragon's Beards (aka salsifies) are an example of a direct observation of evolution because:

the formation of two new hybrid species were observed over time

An organism that lives in or on another organism and causes measurable harm is called a(n):

parasite

A _____ consumes live hosts but does not always kill them.

parasite; herbivore

Which mass extinction event paved the way for mammals to become the dominant terrestrial vertebrate?

Cretaceous

It is common to find deserts at _____, which is typically attributed to _____ at this latitude.

30 N and S; subsidence

An ecologist is studying a population of panthers. In January, she captures and marks 22 individuals. When she returns to the field in March, she captures 18 individuals, 10 of whom have already been marked. What is the current, estimated population size for the panthers?

40

The current human population is _____ and we are expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, which is very near our proposed _____.

7.8 billion; carrying capacity

What type of isotope is best for dating a very old fossil?

A radioisotope with a long half life

Which of the following scenarios demonstrates phenotypic plasticity? A. Field crickets that develop in a resource-rich habitat develop short wings and robust gonads, while those from a resource-poor habitat develop long wings and small gonads. B. Women who experienced a traumatic event during pregnancy and developed PTSD/elevated cortisol level, passed those same changes on to their offspring. C. In humans, there are four blood types that are determined by three alleles in the population. D. An offspring inherits a deletion on chromosome 15 but the effects are dependent on whether the mother or father passed on the mutation.

A. Field crickets that develop in a resource-rich habitat develop short wings and robust gonads, while those from a resource-poor habitat develop long wings and small gonads.

Which of the following statements about enslaver parasites is false? A. Only invertebrates are enslaved by parasites. B. More than half of Earth's known species are parasites. C. Crickets that have been infected by hairworms will jump into water and drown. D. Enslaver parasites manipulate their hosts in ways that further transmission to the next host.

A. Only invertebrates are enslaved by parasites.

Which of the following best describes Miocene apes? A. They are the common ancestor of the great apes. B. They were all bipedal, ground-dwelling species. C. They originated in Africa. D. They are the common ancestor of all hominins.

A. They are the common ancestor of the great apes.

Select the correct statement about clownfish life history: A. When the breeding female dies, the largest male becomes the new female. B. Pecking order is based on age of the male. C. Two males of the same size have similar reproductive success. D. A single clownfish inhabits a single anemone.

A. When the breeding female dies, the largest male becomes the new female.

An octopus is a master at hiding. It can change its color as well as the texture of its skin to match its surroundings. If spotted by a predator, it will also shoot out ink in order to make a quick escape. Which type of prey adaptations does the octopus demonstrate (select all that apply)? A. disrupt B. camouflage C. warn D. startle

A. disrupt; D. startle

Which of the following best describes stabilizing selection? A. selection that favors the intermediate phenotype B. selection that favors one extreme phenotype C. selection that favors both extreme phenotypes D. selection that does not favor any individuals

A. selection that favors the intermediate phenotype

Which of the following statements is correct for homologies? A. Only physical characteristics can be considered homologous. B. The homologous structure of insect mouthparts, even in species that have vastly different feeding habits, illustrates silent mutations. C. The homologous structure of the vertebrate forelimb in amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, despite the array of different functions for these limbs, supports the idea of descent from a common ancestor. D. Embryological homologies cannot be used to help us understand the evolutionary relationships among different animal groups.

C. The homologous structure of the vertebrate forelimb in amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, despite the array of different functions for these limbs, supports the idea of descent from a common ancestor.

Which statement is true of both upwelling and turnover? A. These can occur at any location in a body of water. B. These process only occur in warm water. C. These processes both refer to a mixing of surface and deep water. D. Upwelling and turnover only occur near shores or coasts.

C. These processes both refer to a mixing of surface and deep water.

Which of the following is an example of intraspecific competition? A. A tiger and a sloth bear fight over access to a watering hole. B. Rodents and ants compete for access to the same seed resource. C. White-faced capuchin monkeys compete for a limited source of food. D. Lions and hyenas compete over a wildebeest kill.

C. White-faced capuchin monkeys compete for a limited source of food.

Which of the following best describes the Cambrian explosion? A. a proliferation of Ediacaran biota B. the domination of the terrestrial environment by dinosaurs C. an emergence of many of the major groups of animals D. global climate cooling

C. an emergence of many of the major groups of animals

Which of the following does not describe a tropical rainforest? A. biodiversity hotspot B. little variation in precipitation C. highest abundance of large mammals D. low nutrient soil

C. highest abundance of large mammals

Which of the following relates to the complexity of an organism? A. the number of genes B. the amount of coding DNA C. the amount of noncoding DNA D. the size of the genome

C. the amount of noncoding DNA

In the Sonoran desert lives a species of mouse called the rock pocket mouse. In this habitat, there are light-colored mice that live on sandy substrates and dark-colored mice that live on the dark lava flows. Researchers determined that the dark-colored do not actually travel from lava flow to lava flow, instead remaining on their small habitat. What piece(s) of evidence would support the hypothesis that dark-colored fur is the result of convergence rather than homology? A. they have a similar trait but different mutations that produced it B. the both have a dark colored common ancestor C. the dark mice look nearly identical but live on separate lava flows (too far apart for migration of individuals) D. two answers would provide evidence for convergent evolution

D. two answers would provide evidence for convergent evolution

Which of the following does not lead to sympatric speciation? A. polyploidy B. strong sexual selection C. habitat differentiation D. vicariant event

D. vicariant event

Some animals only eat grass (grazers), some only eat browse (browser), and some eat both. This is an example of:

Dietary niche partitioning

What is a disadvantage of being an endoparasite?

Dispersal is difficult.

Genetic variation in natural populations is advantageous. Identify and discuss two processes that contribute to genetic variation (this can be at the level of the molecule or the gene). Also describe why genetic variation is beneficial for a population.

Genetic variation is beneficial for a population because it introduces new adaptations and alleles that can be beneficial for the survival of a population. Gene flow is a mechanism of evolutionary change where fertile individuals or their gametes move between populations. This increases genetic variation because it transfers new alleles into a population which can improve the overall adaptability of the population. Another mechanism of evolutionary change that increases genetic variation is mutation. This occurs on the molecular level and is the only mechanism that can introduce brand new alleles into a population. This can be advantageous if the new allele leads to an adaptation that is helpful to the organism.

What is a characteristic of metapopulations?

Have repeated extinction and colonization events.

The monocled cobra is a venomous snake found in India and feeds on small mammals, fish, and even other snakes. When it injects its venom, the animal goes limp and cannot move. What is the primary toxin type found in this cobra's venom?

Myotoxin

How does a female dung fly decide which male will fertilize her eggs after she has mated with multiple males?

She stores sperm from different males in different "pockets".

The below image shows the dispersion pattern of penguins, which is uniform. Which factors could contribute to this pattern (select all that apply)?

Territoriality; Antagonistic social interactions

What is the result of a nonsense mutation?

The mutation translates to a stop codon so the sequence is too short

evolutionary reversal

The reappearance of an ancestral trait in a group that had previously acquired a derived trait.

If the average temperature on Earth increased an additional 1.5 degrees C, what effect would this likely have on the distribution of boreal forests in the Northern Hemisphere?

The southern edge of the boreal forests would move northward.

Explain each of the three survivorship curves. How does this relate to r-selection and K-selection? What are some characteristics of each of these groups?

There are three types in survivorship curves. In type I, there is low mortality in young organisms and high mortality in older organisms. This means that most of the individuals survive to old age. Type I is typically associated with K-selection, which includes animals such as whales, elephants, and humans. K-selection is based on carrying capacity and applies to populations that are of larger size, have long life spans, slow development, and fewer offspring. Typically, these species have a high investment in their offspring and have lots of parental care. In type II of the survivorship curves, the chance of survival remains constant throughout the time. This type is in between the types of selection, and is really only seen in some birds, trees, and plants. In type III, there is a high mortality rate for young organisms, and those that survive to adulthood survive well. Type III is usually associated with r-selection, which includes animals such as mice and rabbits. R-selection refers to growth rate and is characterized by organisms that have lots of offspring, short lifespans, smaller size, and fast development. These species have little investment in their offspring and therefore have little parental care.

Kerivoula hardwickii, a woolly bat, and Nepenthes hemsleyana, a pitcher plant, have an association. Woolly bats roost in the pitcher plants and defecate within. The feces provide nutrients, such as nitrogen, to the pitcher plant. The pitcher is also perfectly shaped in a way that makes it easily detectable by the woolly bat and allows for the bat to fit well inside. While the pitcher plant does consume insects, it is more difficult to obtain nutrients in that manner compared to a bat roosting inside. The bats, however, can roost in other places such as dead pitchers. Identify the specific type of symbiotic interaction taking place between the woolly bat and the pitcher plant and define all terminology. Would you expect coevolution to have occurred in this system? Explain your answer.

This is a form of mutualism, specifically either habitat or trophic mutualism that is facultative. This means that both the woolly bat and the pitcher plant are benefiting from the relationship, and that one of them is providing shelter or a favorable habitat for the other. In this case, the pitcher plant is providing shelter for the woolly bat (habitat) while the woolly bat provides nutrients for the pitcher plant (trophic). This relationship is facultative overall because both species could technically survive without the other. The pitcher plant is still able to get nutrients from other sources and the woolly bat can roost in other places. However, it's easier for both of them to have this mutualistic relationship.

A common saying among biologists who study sexual selection is "females are choosy and males are cheap". Thoroughly explain this statement in term so investment of the part of each as well as reproductive strategies.

This saying orginiates from the presence of anisogamy in many species. This refers to the fusion of gametes of different sizes, such as females that have very large eggs in comparison to male sperm that is very small. This leads to differential investment in reproduction. It takes a lot of energy to create the eggs, which means that females have fewer eggs and therefore are limited by fecundity. This forces them to be choosy, because they only have a certain amount of eggs to use and it takes a lot of energy to make more. So, they want to make sure they have the best mate. For males, producing sperm doesn't take much energy, so they are limited by the number of mates they take rather than their sperm count. This means that males are cheap because they are simply trying to mate with as many females as they can in order to have a wide variety of offspring. These different investments in reproduction have led to sperm competition, where females can store sperm from multiple mates at once and choose which sperm to use to fertilize the eggs. As a result, males have developed strategies to ensure that their sperm are the ones being used. These strategies include guarding the female after mating with her, having larger testes that have more sperm, having copulatory plugs, and having modified penises (e.g. dragonflies) that can take out sperm from other males.

T/F: All pathogens are parasites but not all parasites are pathogens.

True

T/F: In nature, life history strategies do not always maximize fitness.

True

T/F: Some animals can gain the ability to be photosynthetic.

True

T/F: Some animals, such as caterpillars or chimpanzees, will use plants containing toxic compounds to treat themselves if infected with parasites.

True

The competitive exclusion principle states that:

Two species that compete for the same limiting resource and use it in the same way cannot coexist.

Milankovitch cycles correspond with glacial-interglacial periods because the _____ changes ever _____.

orbit around the sun; 100,000 years

A researcher who is interested in the number of individuals in a population of butterflies and their movement patterns would most likely use which method?

mark-recapture

What shows a valid clade?

monophyly - includes a common ancestor and all of its descendants

In comparison to forest biomes, grasslands have a:

much lower average rate of precipitation.

Tusk are an important characteristic for elephants as they are used in activities such as foraging, digging for water, and male competition. Due to human pressures, such as poaching, there has been an increase in 'tusklessness' in, particularly, females over the past several decades. In this scenario, the trait of having tusks is under _____ in females.

negative selection

A polyphenism:

the phenotype produced by the genotype is affected by the environment