BIOS 101, BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION

Plesiomorphy

ancestral character state - an evolutionarily primitive state

Synapomorphies

shared derived characters

Homology

similarity resulting from common ancestry

Systematics

study of the diversity of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms STUDY OF PHYLOGENY

A 2004 study in the journal Nature concluded: "Many plant and animal species are unlikely to survive climate change. New analyses suggest that 15-37% of a sample of 1,103 land plants and animals would eventually become extinct as a result of climate changes expected by 2050. For some of these species there will no longer be anywhere suitable to live." What is the best explanation for this conclusion? A) Carbon dioxide is toxic to plants. B) No plants can survive at high temperatures. C) Greenhouse gases will block the amount of light available for photosynthesis. D) Temperatures will change faster than plants can adapt.

D)

How is biodiversity measured in a given area? A) genetic diversity within the population of trees B) the diversity of species of trees C) the diversity of ecosystems in the area D) All answers are correct.

D) All answers are correct

Altruism via _________ can evolve when close relatives tend to interact, and altruism can evolve via __________ when individuals (non-relatives) interact repeatedly and begin to recognize each other A) Asexual reproduction; Haplo-diploidy B) Genetic bottlenecks; Founder effects C) The battle of the sexes; The snowdrift game D) Kin selection; reciprocal altruism E) Female choice; Male territoriality

D) Kin selection; reciprocal altruism

Which of the following best describes the greenhouse effect? A) Less light is radiated from the atmosphere. B) More light enters the atmosphere. C) More heat enters the atmosphere. D) Less heat is radiated from the atmosphere. E) The Earth produces more heat.

D) Less heat is radiated from the atmosphere.

Polyploidy: Disorders of meiosis cause accidental formation of gametes that are 2N rather than N. Union of two of these 2N gametes produces a zygote that is 4N! Chromosome # doubles instantaneously producing a potential new species. This process for producing new species is most likely in: A) Wasps B) Bacteria C) Mammals D) Plants

D) Plants

A horse has 2N=64 and a donkey has 2N=62. The hybrid of these two species, mules have 63 chromosomes and are sterile. Why are mules sterile? A) Their zygotes cannot complete the first mitotic division. B) They are sexually weak. C) They cannot physically mate with horses and donkeys. D) They lack homologous chromosomes to go through meiosis to produce normal sperms and eggs.

D) They lack homologous chromosomes to go through meiosis to produce normal sperms and eggs.

A monophyletic group is an evolutionary unit that includes an ancestral population and all of its descendants, but no others

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Branching Point in Cladogenesis is Speciation (Origin of lineages)

!!

Homoplasy

"same-form" occurs when traits are similar for reasons other than common ancestry

The first multicellular organisms probably arose about A) 1.5 billion years ago. B) 500 million years ago. C) 4.6 billion years ago. D) 1 trillion years ago.

A) 1.5 billion years ago

allopatric speciation by vicariance

1. Geographic isolation (chance event that physically separates population into subgroups) 2. Divergence... mutation, genetic drift, and selection 3. Genetic Isolation... the two populations are genetically isolated from one another

3) When nonrandom mating occurs in a population so that individuals prefer to mate with similar individuals, allele frequencies should A) remain the same, but homozygotes will be overrepresented in the population. B) remain the same, but heterozygotes will be overrepresented in the population. C) change and heterozygotes will be overrepresented in the population. D) non-random mating does not occur in nature population. E) remain the same, at Hardy—Weinberg equilibrium.

A

A male peacock has enormous tail feathers that it uses in mating displays to attract females. While the tail feathers are an advantage in mating, what is the potential disadvantage of these feathers to the male? A) The feathers require a lot of energy to produce (that is, they are handicap). B) Bright feathers make males less susceptible to predation. C) The feathers make the male more attractive to other males. D) There are no disadvantages to having large tail feathers. E) The large tail feathers would make it easier to fly.

A

A newly discovered plant in the rain forest has no xylem, no phloem, no seeds, and no flowers. What is it? A) bryophyte B) seedless vascular plant C) a gymnosperm D) an angiosperm

A

Most causes of speciation are relatively slow, in that they may take many generations to see changes, with the exception of ________. A) polyploidy B) reinforcement C) colonization D) natural selection

A

The light-colored peppered moth was predominant in England before Industrial Revolution. In mid-nineteenth century, a dark-colored form appeared. The difference is produced by a dominant allele of one gene. The dark and light forms readily interbreed. In 1900, 90% moths around industrial areas were dark (as birds could spot the light moths against the soot-darkened background, and were eating more light moths). The use of cleaner fuels recently has reduced soot in the landscape, and the dark moths have been disappearing. Should the two forms of moths be considered separate species? A) Yes, because natural selection has affected the frequency of the two different forms. B) Yes, because they have completely different coloration. C) Yes, because they are reproductively isolated based on habitat.

A

What combination of characteristics do all animals share? A) multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic B) unicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic C) multicellular, prokaryotic, autotrophic D) multicellular, eukaryotic, autotrophic E) unicellular, prokaryotic, autotrophic

A

What is the most potent greenhouse gas? A. Carbon dioxide B. Methane C. Nitrous oxide D. Flourinated gases

A

Which of the following could be a vicariance event? A) The level of water in a lake recedes, creating two lakes where there used to be one. B) Some insects get blown in a storm to a new mountain range, where they lay eggs. C) Radiation near Chernobyl increases mutation rates, causing an increase in autopolyploidy. D) Global warming allows populations of mosquitoes to survive at higher elevations.

A

Which of the following statements explains why animals are less likely than plants to speciate by polyploidy? A) Animals self-fertilize less often than plants, so diploid gametes are less likely to fuse. B) Animals have better mechanisms for repairing chromosomes than plants have. C) Animals are more mobile, so they have more effective prezygotic isolating mechanisms. D) Animals are more mobile, so populations get separated far less often. E) Animals use a more rigorous form of meiosis than plants, making diploid gametes much more difficult to form.

A

Which process led to the formation of the species pairs of Pacific and Caribbean snapping shrimp divided by the Isthmus of Panama? A) allopatric speciation by vicariance B) allopatric speciation by dispersal C) sympatric speciation by vicariance D) sympatric speciation by dispersal

A

With regard to understanding the evolution of cooperation, the principal prediction that can be made from the expression Br > C is that ________. A) natural selection will favor cooperation among close relatives B) cooperation evolves because it benefits all members of a species C) cooperation evolves because it enhances the species' fitness D) selection favors self-sacrifice in reproduction E) natural selection will favor cooperation among any individuals

A

Homoplasy

A similar (analogous) structure or molecular sequence that has evolved independently in two species.

If a 10-mile-wide comet hits the earth, how will this likely affect the history of life? A) A mass extinction will occur followed by lots of evolutionary change by descendants of the survivors. B) A slow climate warming and drying will begin decreasing the biological diversity on earth. C) Continental drift will be reversed and all the continents will slowly be pushed together again. D) Most species will become extinct and the rest will remain more or less unchanged. E) All life from earth will end

A) A mass extinction will occur followed by lots of evolutionary change by descendants of the survivors.

How is deforestation, worldwide, linked to climate change? A) Burning the forests releases carbon dioxide and transpiration by trees is diminished. B) Burning the forests consumes oxygen and transpiration by trees is diminished. C) Burning the forests releases carbon dioxide and transpiration by trees is increased. D) Burning the forests consumes oxygen and transpiration by trees is increased.

A) Burning the forests releases carbon dioxide and transpiration by trees is diminished

Bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes all have ribosomes, but ribosome structure slightly varies between these groups. What is the best explanation for this observation? A) The common ancestor of these three domains had ribosomes; slight changes have accumulated since the lineages split. B) Ribosomes arose independently in all three groups. C) Bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes are not evolutionarily related.

A) The common ancestor of these three domains had ribosomes; slight changes have accumulated since the lineages split.

12) Two frog populations belonging to the same species live in two neighboring lakes and sing slightly different courtship songs. Increased irrigation makes the land between the two lakes wetter, allowing frogs to expand their ranges to the area between the lakes (migration is possible now). Females in both populations prefer loud frogs to quieter frogs but do not distinguish between the two slightly different songs. Assuming that courtship song differences have a genetic basis, predict what will likely happen to the songs of the two frog populations. A) The songs will become more similar to each other. B) Males will become louder. C) Disruptive selection will cause the songs to differentiate even more. D) Genetic drift will cause the songs to differentiate even more.

A) The songs will become more similar to each other.

About 3 million years ago Isthmus of Panama closed, forming a land bridge connecting two Americas. Snapping shrimp collected from water on one side of the isthmus look similar to those on the other side, but they cannot interbreed. What has occurred? A) Vicariance (allopatric) speciation B) Peripatric (allopatric) speciation C) Sympatric speciation D) Kin selection E) Sexual selection

A) Vicariance (allopatric) speciation

Some beetles and flies have antler-like structures on their heads, much like male deer do. The existence of antlers in beetle, fly, and deer species with strong male—male competition is an example of ________. A) convergent evolution B) a synapomorphy C) homology

A) convergent evolution

1) An organelle that probably evolved from an independent organism that moved inside and began to live within a eukaryotic cell is a(n) A) mitochondrion. B) nucleus. C) golgi. D) endoplasmic reticulum. E) food vacuole.

A) mitochondrion.

What combination of characteristics do all animals share? A) multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic B) unicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic C) multicellular, prokaryotic, autotrophic D) multicellular, eukaryotic, autotrophic E) unicellular, prokaryotic, autotrophic

A) multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic

Three modes of natural selection -- directional, stabilizing, & disrupting -- are distinguished by their effects on phenotypes. In directional selection A) one phenotype is favored over another. B) an intermediate phenotype is favored over the extreme phenotypes. C) extreme phenotypes are favored over an intermediate phenotype. D) no phenotype will be favored

A) one phenotype is favored over another.

Which of the following is an example of macroevolution? A) the origin of horses and donkeys from a common ancestor B) giraffes with longer necks reaching higher tree branches C) antibiotic resistance in S. aureus D) female cardinals preferring males with bright red feathers

A) the origin of horses and donkeys from a common ancestor

11) In a small population of alpine foxes, you observe increased ear length over a 10-year period. Can you conclude that increase in ear length is advantageous in this population? A) Yes. B) No.

B

Passenger Pigeon got extinct largely because of A) Climate Change B) Habitat destruction C) Asteroid impact D) Invasive species

B

Passenger Pigeon got extinct largely because of A) Climate Change B) Habitat destruction C) Asteroid impact D) Invasive species

B

Sexual reproduction ________. A) allows animals to conserve resources and reproduce only during optimal conditions B) can produce diverse phenotypes that may enhance survival of a population in a changing environment C) yields more numerous offspring more rapidly than is possible with asexual reproduction D) enables males and females to remain isolated from each other while rapidly colonizing habitats E) guarantees that both parents will provide care for each offspring

B

The 6th Mass extinctions started A) 440 million years ago when the world was full of trilobites B) 50 thousand years ago when many mega mammals roam different continents C) Some 150 years ago after industrialization D) 65 million years ago when the earth was dominated by dinosaurs

B

The proximate causes of behavior are interactions with the environment, but behavior is ultimately shaped by ________. A) hormones B) evolution C) sexuality D) pheromones E) the nervous system

B

Which of the following does NOT tend to promote speciation? A) the founder effect B) gene flow C) natural selection D) polyploidy E) disruptive selection

B

In all three species of phalarope, a taxon of wading shorebirds, the majority of parental care is provided by the male, not the female. Based on the logic of sexual selection, what would you expect to see in phalaropes? A) Chick survival is very low. B) Females are more brightly colored than males. C) Each female mates with a single male. D) Males are larger than females.

B) Females are more brightly colored than males.

Natural selection is the force of evolution that: A) Favors dominant alleles B) Promotes adaptations C) Mendel discovered D) Explains the Neutral theory of evolution E) Minimizes the extinction of species

B) Promotes adaptations

Sexual selection is a type of natural selection resulting from variation in the ability to obtain mates. A) False B) True

B) True

The term natural selection is not interchangeable with the term evolution because A) natural selection does not always lead to evolution. B) a population may evolve in ways other than through natural selection. C) Darwin coined the term natural selection, but not evolution. D) The two are exactly the same and may be used interchangeably.

B) a population may evolve in ways other than through natural selection.

Tortoises colonizing the different Galapagos islands and evolving into different species is an example of ____ speciation. A) prezygotic B) allopatric C) postzygotic D) sympatric E) outgroup

B) allopatric

The white-tailed antelope ground squirrel lives on the north side of the grand canyon while the Harris antelope ground squirrel lives on the south side. This is a likely example of: A) diet choice B) allopatric speciation C) an adaptive radiation D) habitat selection E) preferences for different rocky substrates

B) allopatric speciation

Sexually dimorphic features do not include A) colored plumage. B) intelligence. C) antlers. D) body size. E) All of the choices are sexually dimorphic features.

B) intelligence.

If an environmental change happens too suddenly a population may go extinct because A) the mutation rate increases killing off the population. B) it lacks the genetic variation to evolve. C) individuals are too confused to mate. D) resources are overabundant.

B) it lacks the genetic variation to evolve.

A polymorphic beetle comes in black, brown and yellow morphs. Birds prey on them. Due to differences in survivorship, the fitness of different color morphs differs (as below). Black: 70% chance of survival to adulthood Brown: 95% chance of survival to adulthood; and Yellow: 20% chance of survival to adulthood Assuming they have identical numbers of offspring, what is the relative fitness of Yellow? A) 0.7/0.95 B) 0.7 C) 0.2/0.95 D) 0.2/0.7 E) 1

C

Approximately how far back in time does the fossil record extend? A) 100,000 years B) 5.0 million years C) 3.5 billion years D) 10.0 billion years

C

Both ancestral birds and ancestral mammals shared a common ancestor that was a terrestrial vertebrate. Today, penguins (which are birds) and seals (which are mammals) have forelimbs adapted for swimming. What term best describes the relationship of the bones in the forelimbs of penguins and seals, and what term best describes the flippers of penguins and seals? A) homology; homology B) homoplasy; homology C) homology; homoplasy D) homoplasy; homoplasy

C

How do mass extinctions differ from background extinctions? A) Mass extinctions occur over a longer period of time than background extinctions. B) Mass extinctions, but not background extinctions, are generally caused by competition. C) Mass extinctions cause a larger proportion of organisms to go extinct than background extinctions. D) Mass extinctions typically result from Hox gene mutations, and background extinctions typically result from changes in weather patterns.

C

Males of different species of the fruit fly Drosophila that live in the same parts of the Hawaiian Islands have different elaborate courtship rituals. These rituals involve fighting other males and making stylized movements that attract females. What type of reproductive isolation does this represent? A) habitat isolation B) temporal isolation C) behavioral isolation D) gametic isolation

C

The current extinction rate of vertebrates is 100-1000 times the historical background. This is primarily due to A) overharvesting. B) competition with exotic species. C) habitat destruction. D) competition with native species. E) random chance.

C

Which is an example of a homologous structure? A) The carbon chain of glucose and polyester B) The different hairs on a cat C) The toes of a squirrel and the toes of a human D) The wing of a wasp and the wing of a bat E) The adaptive landscape for disruptive and stabilizing selection

C) The toes of a squirrel and the toes of a human

Ichthyosaurs, now extinct, were aquatic reptiles with dorsal fins and tails, similar to those of fish. Their most recent ancestors were terrestrial reptiles that had neither dorsal fins nor aquatic tails. The dorsal fins and tails of ichthyosaurs and fish are ________. A) homologous structures B) adaptations to different environments C) adaptations to a common environment and examples of convergent evolution D) adaptations to a common environment and homologous structures

C) adaptations to a common environment and examples of convergent evolution

4) Small iguanas can sprint faster than large iguanas. If predators, for example cats, that preferentially catch and eat slower iguanas are introduced to the island, iguana body size is likely to ________ (in the absence of other factors); the iguanas would then be under ________ selection. A) increase; directional B) increase; disruptive C) decrease; directional D) decrease; disruptive

C) decrease; directional

Ancestors of the Galapagos finches had two different types of seeds to eat on some islands. Some seeds were very small and required small beaks to handle. Other seeds were very large and required large strong beaks to crack. This led to ____ among the Galapagos finches. A) directional selection B) stabilizing selection C) disruptive selection D) artificial selection E) sexual selection

C) disruptive selection

The mode of natural selection in which two or more extreme phenotypes are fitter than the intermediate phenotype is A) directional selection. B) stabilizing selection. C) disruptive selection. D) artificial selection. E) uniformitarianism.

C) disruptive selection

Three-spined stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) show substantial heritable variation in gill- raker length related to differences in their diets. Longer gill rakers appear to function better for capturing open-water prey, while shorter gill rakers function better for capturing shallow-water prey. Which of the following types of selection is most likely to be found in a large lake (open water in the middle and shallow water around the sides) with a high density of these fish? A) directional selection B) stabilizing selection C) disruptive selection D) sexual selection

C) disruptive selection

Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) and one-seeded juniper (J. monosperma) have overlapping ranges. Pollen grains (which contain sperm nuclei) from one species are unable to germinate and make pollen tubes to bring the sperm nuclei to the female ovules (which contain egg cells) of the other species. These two juniper species are kept separate by ________. A) habitat isolation B) temporal isolation C) gametic isolation D) behavioral isolation E) morphological isolation

C) gametic isolation

Alleles conferring red plumage to cardinal males are common because red plumage A) makes males less susceptible to predation. B) is helpful in attracting prey. C) is preferred by female cardinals in choosing a mate. D) allows male cardinals to easily identify each other. E) is an example of genetic drift.

C) is preferred by female cardinals in choosing a mate.

The Great Dane and tiny Chihuahua are both domestic dogs, the same species. However, mating between them is limited by A) behavioral isolation. B) chromosomal abnormalities C) mechanical incompatibility. D) predation by great danes on chihuhuas

C) mechanical incompatibility.

The phylogeny shows how: A) cells of an organisms develop B) individuals of a population interact C) species of a group are related D) alleles at a loci segregate E) leaves on a tree develop on different branches

C) species of a group are related

Most Swiss starlings produce four to five eggs in each clutch. Starlings producing fewer or more than this have reduced fitness. Which of the following terms best describes this situation? A) artificial selection B) directional selection C) stabilizing selection D) disruptive selection E) sexual selection

C) stabilizing selection

Microevolution

Change in allele frequencies in a population over generations.

2) Evolution in a population of island iguanas can be caused by the following agent(s): A) natural selection. B) genetic drift. C) gene flow. D) All of the above can be agents. E) both natural selection and genetic drift.

D

A 2004 study in the journal Nature concluded: "Many plant and animal species are unlikely to survive climate change. New analyses suggest that 15-37% of a sample of 1,103 land plants and animals would eventually become extinct as a result of climate changes expected by 2050. For some of these species there will no longer be anywhere suitable to live." What is the best explanation for this conclusion? A) Carbon dioxide is toxic to plants. B) No plants can survive at high temperatures. C) Greenhouse gases will block the amount of light available for photosynthesis. D) Temperatures will change faster than plants can adapt. E) If animals go extinct the plants that depend on them will go extinct as well.

D

Groups of black grouse males gather at common display site where females select and mate with them. What kind of breeding system do the black grouse represent? A) monomorphic, polymorphic B) genetic, phenotypic C) reptilian, avian D) polygyny, lekking E) Monogamy, extra-copulation

D

Plant species A has a diploid number of 12. Plant species B has a diploid number of 16. A new species, C, arises as an allopolyploid from A and B. The diploid number for species C would probably be ________. A) 12 B) 14 C) 16 D) 28

D

Two populations of birds with somewhat different coloration live on opposite sides of a peninsula. The habitat between the populations is not suitable for these birds. When birds from the two populations are brought together, they produce young whose appearance is intermediate between the two parents. These offspring will breed with each other or with birds from either parent population, and all offspring of these pairings appear intermediate to various degrees. What keeps the two populations separate? A) temporal reproductive isolation B) lack of hybrid viability C) behavioral reproductive isolation D) habitat isolation

D

Which of the following best describes the greenhouse effect? A) Less light is radiated from the atmosphere. B) More light enters the atmosphere. C) More heat enters the atmosphere. D) Less heat is radiated from the atmosphere. E) The Earth produces more heat.

D

Which of the following organisms would be most likely to fossilize? A) a rare worm B) a common worm C) a rare squirrel D) a common squirrel

D

Which of the following statements best summarizes evolution by natural selection as it is viewed today? A) Evolution by natural selection represents the result of selection for acquired characteristics. B) Evolution by natural selection is the production of adaptations that meet present and anticipated needs. C) Evolution by natural selection is the descent of humans from the present-day great apes. D) Evolution by natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of the most-fit phenotypes.

D

Blue-footed boobies of the Galapagos will only mate after a very specific courtship display on the part of the male. He high-steps to advertise his bright blue feet. What isolating mechanism discourages mating outside the species? A) temporal isolation B) ecological isolation C) gametic isolation D) behavioral isolation E) mechanical isolation

D) behavioral isolation

Natural selection ________. A) is a random process B) creates beneficial mutations C) completely eliminates harmful mutations D) can favor beneficial mutations

D) can favor beneficial mutations

The primary cause for loss of biodiversity is A) predation. B) parasitism. C) genetic mutation. D) habitat destruction. E) global warming.

D) habitat destruction

Dog breeders maintain the purity of breeds by keeping dogs of different breeds apart when they are fertile. This kind of isolation is most similar to which of the following reproductive isolating mechanisms? A) temporal isolation B) behavioral isolation C) mechanical isolation D) habitat isolation E) gametic isolation

D) habitat isolation

Interbreeding two different species of lovebirds produces offspring which are unable to build a nest after they mature (because they lack the innate knowledge needed to carry the nesting materials). The hybrid offspring do not reproduce and this limits genetic mixing of the two species. This is an example of A) sympatric speciation. B) gametic inviability. C) behavioral isolation. D) hybrid inviability. E) ecological isolation.

D) hybrid inviability

If a sheep and goat are mated, their offspring dies as an embryo. This is an example of ____ reproductive isolation. A) prezygotic B) allopatric C) sympatric D) postzygotic E) outgroup

D) postzygotic

Two different species of pine release their pollen at different times due to A) behavioral isolation. B) mechanical isolation. C) ecological isolation. D) temporal isolation.

D) temporal isolation.

Which of the following is NOT an example of Macroevolution: A) the origin and extinction of new taxonomic groups B) the origin of birds from a group of dinosaurs C) the evolutionary divergence of many Phylum at the Cambrian D) the beaks of cactus finches changing in size in response to a drought on the Galapagos islands E) mass extinctions followed by adaptive radiations

D) the beaks of cactus finches changing in size in response to a drought on the Galapagos islands

Cladogram

Diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms

Which of the following are negative biological consequences of climate change? I. changes in geographic ranges II. changes in phenology III. extinctions A) I only B) I and III only C) III only D) II and III only E) I, II, and III

E) I, II, and III

What aspect of the vampire bat's ecology suggests that it engages in reciprocal altruism: A) Providing safety for relatives B) Forming female colonies of mothers and daughters that help each other C) Foraging in groups to maximize the benefits of finding a prey D) Providing an anesthetic for its prey E) Sharing blood meals with those that have shared with them

E) Sharing blood meals with those that have shared with them

Homology vs. Analogy

Homology is similarity due to shared ancestry Analogy is similarity due to convergent evolution

derived trait

New feature that had not appeared in common ancestors

vicariance allopatric speciation

Occurs when a physical barrier splits a widespread population into subgroups that are physically isolated from each other - population is divided by a change in geological landscape, allele change follows

convergent evolution

Process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments

Vicariance

The physical splitting of a population into smaller, isolated populations by a geographic barrier.

Apomorphy

derived trait - an evolutionary novelty for a group

Macroevolution

large-scale evolutionary changes that take place over long periods of time

SYN-apomorphy

trait that a group has inherited because common ancestor had a novel characteristic and passed it on.