Deck 11: Evolution- a Tropical Murder Mystery: Finding the Missing Birds of Guam

Question 1

The two main sources of genetic variation are __________.

A) genetic mutations and genetic similarity
B) genetic recombination and coevolution
C) genetic mutations and genetic recombination
D) coevolution and extirpation
E) All of the above are forms of genetic variation.

Answer 1

genetic mutations and genetic recombination

Question 2

Describe how a population evolves by natural selection.

Answer 2

Individuals within a population are genetically diverse. This allows individuals with genes/traits that enable them to survive and reproduce to pass along their genes to the next generation, unlike less-adapted individuals. Over time, a greater frequency of individuals within the population will have those adaptive genes/traits. This shift of gene frequency is evolution.

Question 3

Infographic 11.1.

Based on the information in Infographic 11.1, come up with an example of natural selection for a population (either real or fictional), and describe which kind of natural selection is at work. Be sure to describe the population in its original state and its evolved state.

Answer 3

There are many different scenarios that one could come up with. For example, peppered moths found in the forests of England come in gray and black variations. Before the Industrial Revolution, the gray moths outnumbered black moths in the population. As a result of the Industrial Revolution, soot from factories blackened trees used as habitats for the moths. The frequency of black moths began to dominate the population as they were now better camouflaged from predators. This is an example of directional selection.

Question 4

An owl population moves into an area where field mice live. The owls prey upon the mice. Over time, what might happen to the population of field mice in terms of evolved traits?

Question 5

Which type of natural selection would favor the norm of a population and select against extremes?

A) stabilizing selection
B) directional selection
C) disruptive selection
D) individual selection
E) unnatural selection

Question 6

When the next ice age comes, species that are adapted to warmer climates will have to change their survival strategies. Nonrandom influences affecting which individuals survive and reproduce within the population are known as __________.

A) macroevolution
B) endemic pressures
C) selective pressures
D) natural indicators
E) none of the above

Question 7

The more genetically diverse a population is the more likely ___________.

A) favorable traits will be selected for evolution
B) the population will survive
C) the population will be lost to global climate change
D) both A and B
E) All of the above are correct.

Question 8

_________ is the heritable variation among individuals of a single population or within the species as a whole.

A) Species diversity
B) Genetic diversity
C) Natural selection
D) Coevolution
E) Extirpation

Question 9

Different versions of genes in a population are called ___________.

A) alleles
B) memes
C) individuals
D) directors
E) assortments

Question 10

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Populations with more genetic diversity are less likely to suffer from inbreeding.
B) Selection pressures can change over time.
C) Giraffes that stretch their necks more than other giraffes will have babies with longer necks.
D) Natural selection acts on individual organisms.
E) Adaptive traits allow individual organisms to better survive and reproduce.

Question 11

Infographic 11.1.


Refer to Infographic 11.1. Prior to advances in health care, premature low birth weight babies were unlikely to survive. At the other end of the spectrum, very large babies were unable to be born, often killing the mother while in labor as well. As a result, birth weight for humans averages between 7 and 8 pounds. Use the infographic to identify and name which result of natural selection is at work in this example.

Question 12

Coevolution is a type of:

A) natural selection.
B) speciation.
C) genetic recombination.
D) genetic mutation.
E) extirpation.

Question 13

Natural selection acts on ________ while ________ evolve.

A) populations; individuals
B) communities; individuals
C) species; individuals
D) individuals; populations
E) communities; populations

Question 14

________ are stretches of DNA that influence traits of an individual.

A) Proteins
B) Imprints
C) Genes
D) Founders
E) Constraints

Question 15

A scientist notices that a lot more polar bears living in the warmer parts of the Arctic Circle have darker fur than they did 30 years ago. She wonders if this is an adaptation to global warming. Which of the following terms might help explain the increase in the number of darker polar bears?

A) genetic diversity
B) adaptation
C) evolution
D) selective pressure
E) All of the answers listed above might explain the phenomenon.

Question 16

What are four observations that natural selection is based on?

Question 17

Which of the following can make a difference in how quickly natural selection can produce a change in a population?

A) level of genetic diversity
B) size of the population
C) reproductive rate and generation time
D) strength of the selective pressure
E) All of the above can make a difference.

Question 18

For coevolution to occur, which of the following must happen between two species?

A) natural selection
B) successful reproduction of each species
C) each provides selective pressure for traits in the other
D) each affects the differential survival and reproductive success of the other
E) all of the above

Question 19

Infographic 11.1.

What must exist within a population in order for evolution by natural selection to occur, and what are its sources?

Question 20

On the Galápagos Islands, the finches that Darwin studied tended to have either small beaks or large beaks. The smaller beaks are best at eating soft seeds but are ineffective at cracking large seeds. The larger beaks are best at cracking hard seeds. Beaks of intermediate size are inefficient for either seed type. Which result of natural selection is at work in this example?

A) stabilizing selection
B) directional selection
C) disruptive selection
D) individual selection
E) unnatural selection

Question 21

A major river changes course and divides a population of rabbits into two subpopulations. The two groups are reproductively isolated from each other and become subjected to different selective pressures in the two locations. A predator exists on one side of the river but not the other. Over time the two groups evolve enough that during a drought that temporarily allows the groups to once again intermingle, they can no longer reproduce with each other. What has happened in this example?

Question 22

Green and blue coral snakes are found in even numbers on an isolated, small Pacific island. A hurricane hits the island and randomly kills the majority of the blue coral snakes. The remaining coral snakes repopulate the island, with green now being their predominant color. With regards to evolution, this change is considered an excellent example of ___________.

A) the founder effect
B) speciation
C) directional selection
D) natural selection
E) the bottleneck effect

Question 23

Infographic 11.3
Refer to Infographic 11.3. A population of grasshopper mice preys upon a population of beetles. The population of beetles contains individuals with an adaptive trait of squirting a noxious fluid that repels the mice. Over time, the majority of beetles in the population will have the genes that provide for that trait. Use the infographic to describe what changes will need to occur in the grasshopper mouse population to counter what has happened in the beetle population. What is this situation an example of?

Question 24

________ species may benefit from activities that fragment habitat.

A) Core
B) Keystone
C) Edge
D) Endangered
E) Threatened

Question 25

You have noticed in your greenhouse that your plants are covered by a pest, so you decide to apply a chemical pesticide. The first time you spray the pesticide, 90% of the pests are eliminated, but you have noticed that subsequent spraying of the pesticide has resulted in a smaller reduction of the pest population. What is happening in the pest population?

Question 26

Which of the following is most likely the reason the bird species of Guam did not coevolve with the brown tree snake?

A) The brown tree snake only eats bird eggs.
B) There was not enough random mutation in the bird species to produce protective traits.
C) The brown tree snake preyed on the bird species too rapidly, not allowing enough time for protective traits in the bird species to be selected for and passed on to the next generation.
D) Many bird species migrated off of the island.
E) The birds did not need to coevolve; the brown tree snake did not pose a significant threat.

Question 27

Infographic 11.5.

Refer to Infographic 11.5. The infographic shows a small, random, group of beetles being blown by storm winds from Island 1 to Island 2, which is a new area. This group is now physically isolated from the original population. How would you describe the population on Island 2 compared with the original population on Island 1? What is this concept called?

Question 28

A road that cuts through a forest is an example of __________.

A) a biological corridor
B) edge destruction
C) transition destruction
D) habitat fragmentation
E) transition loss

Question 29

The draining of wetlands for development is an example of __________.

A) increasing biodiversity
B) the founder effect
C) habitat destruction
D) overharvesting
E) habitat restoration

Question 30

The loss of a trait is always a disadvantage to a population.

Question 31

Which is likely not an example of coevolution?

A) A moth that has a long tongue reaches the nectar of a flower that is housed in a long tube.
B) A tree trunk growing thicker and stronger prevents breakage from hurricane force winds.
C) A caterpillar develops resistance to a toxin produced by its main plant food source.
D) A mollusk develops a thick shell to avoid predation by a crab with strong pinchers.
E) All answers could be examples of coevolution.

Question 32

If some members of a bird population had been able to escape Guam and colonize another island, which genetic concept would likely have happened?

A) genetic drift
B) the founder effect
C) speciation
D) the bottleneck effect
E) genetic recombination

Question 33

Which event may lead two populations to undergo speciation?

A) habitat fragmentation
B) food availability
C) new predators
D) isolation
E) All of these answers may lead to speciation.

Question 34

_______ happens when there is a decrease in the frequency of a particular trait due to random mating.

A) The founder effect
B) The bottleneck effect
C) Genetic drift
D) Natural selection
E) Extirpation

Question 35

The nation of Guam used to be home to 18 native avian species. By the 1980s, four species of birds had gone extinct and 10 others were in danger of extinction. What caused this to happen? What evidence was found to support this?

Question 36

When populations diverge, like that of the Arctic fox and the red fox, ______________.

A) speciation may occur
B) individuals will mate with members of another species
C) genetic drift must occur
D) the change must have been caused by human activities
E) species diversity decreases

Question 37

Species are considered ______ when they face a high risk of extinction in the immediate future. Species are considered ________ when they are in danger of becoming _______ in the near future.

A) threatened; endangered; extirpated
B) endangered; extinct; threatened
C) endangered; threatened; endangered
D) extirpated; threatened; endangered
E) threatened; endangered; endangered

Question 38

A genetic mutation that allows lions to better hunt their prey (gazelles) becomes prevalent in a population. In order to survive, a gazelle population must _________.

A) increase their numbers through immigration to the area
B) find a new food source
C) individually adapt to the threat
D) coevolve to avoid the lions more effectively
E) move to an area where lions are not the keystone species

Question 39

Random events that play a role in evolution typically _________ genetic diversity.

A) increase
B) decrease
C) do not affect

Question 40

Several factors contribute to the endangerment of species including all of the following EXCEPT _________.

A) habitat destruction
B) anthropogenic climate change
C) diversification of genes
D) overharvesting
E) pollution

Question 41

Which does NOT represent a human-caused threat to biodiversity?

A) the draining of wetlands for housing developments
B) clear-cutting a forest to plant a soybean field
C) the population of Earth reaching 7 billion people
D) accidental introduction of brown tree snakes to Guam
E) All of the above are human-caused threats.

Question 42

The intentional breeding for certain traits, or combination of traits, is ________.

A) natural selection
B) the founder effect
C) the bottleneck effect
D) genetic drift
E) artificial selection

Question 43

Which of the following are human activities that could cause an increase in extinction rates?

A) habitat destruction
B) pollution
C) anthropogenic climate change
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 44

The slow extinction of species is always occurring on Earth. Five periods of mass extinction have also happened. Many scientists feel that humans are responsible for causing another era of mass extinction. Which of the following human factors might contribute to this mass extinction?

A) overpopulation
B) pollution
C) man-made contributions to global climate change
D) encroachment on animal habitat
E) All of these answers may contribute to the current mass extinction.

Question 45

One major problem with human stress on ecosystems is that ______.

A) ecosystems are too biodiverse to respond to human-caused threats
B) natural selection cannot keep up with the constant human-caused threats
C) evolution tends to occur more rapidly while under stress
D) newly introduced species almost never thrive in unfamiliar ecosystems
E) All of the above answers are correct.

Question 46

Compared with the background rate of extinction, currently ___________.

A) species are going extinct much faster than in the past
B) the rate of extinction is more than 100 times higher
C) humans are greatly enhancing the rate of extinction
D) Both A and C are correct.
E) All of the above answers are correct.

Question 47

Protecting biodiversity is a difficult task because ________.

A) the human population is constantly rising and demanding more from the environment
B) it is often valued less than human development
C) there are many species on Earth that we do not even know exist
D) endangered and threatened species do not always rebound, even when efforts are made to protect them
E) All of the above answers are correct.

Question 48

Which of the following human activities has the potential to influence selection and affect evolution?

A) use of pesticides
B) use of antibiotics
C) use of herbicides
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 49

_______ is the complete loss of a species from the Earth.

A) Endangering
B) Threatening
C) Extirpation
D) Endemic
E) Extinction

Question 50

Why is artificial selection likely bad for the ultimate survival of a species?

A) It reduces the genetic diversity of the population and thus makes the population more susceptible to disruptions.
B) Only nature can decide what is best for a population.
C) There are not as many individuals in each population, i.e. small population sizes.
D) It decreases the rate at which individuals reproduce.
E) There are no adverse effects of artificial selection.

Question 51

Information obtained from the fossil record sets the background rate of extinction per year at _____ species out of every million species.

A) 0.1
B) 1
C) 10
D) 100
E) 1,000

Question 52

It is estimated that _____ of all species that have ever lived on this planet have gone extinct.

A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 75%
E) more than 99%

Question 53

The most famous major extinction event that occurred on Earth was the _________, which resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs.

A) Ordovician extinction
B) K-T boundary mass extinction
C) Devonian extinction
D) Permian extinction
E) Triassic extinction

Question 54

What are the main activities that humans are doing to greatly accelerate the rate of extinction above background levels?

Question 55

The background rate of extinction describes ___________.

A) the average amount of time a species has before extinction
B) the amount of time it takes for a similar species to become extinct
C) the average rate of extinction in the time periods between mass extinctions
D) the length of a given mass extinction
E) the average rate of extinction after human impact on the environment

Question 56

In Earth's history there has(have) been ____ major extinction event(s) leading to the loss of 50% or more of the species present.

A) one
B) three
C) five
D) seven
E) nine

Question 57

Why is the sixth mass extinction event different from previous mass extinction events, and why is it so important?

Question 58

A species is considered _______ to an area if it is not found anywhere else on Earth.

A) extinct
B) extirpated
C) exiled
D) endemic
E) elected

Question 59

A genetic trait causes double muscling in cattle. Breeders mate together individuals with this trait to increase muscle mass in their herd. This is an example of ____________.

A) artificial selection
B) natural selection
C) stabilizing selection
D) core speciation
E) disruptive selection

Question 60

Some people insist that human activity is not affecting extinction rates. Many people point out that in the history of Earth there have been several periods of mass extinction before humans were around. As a scientist, what could you do to change their views?

Question 61

The main threats to biodiversity from humans are due to habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, pollution, invasive species, overharvesting, and climate change. What can be done to better protect biodiversity? Give an example for each cause.

Question 62

Which of the following is true about evolution?

A) Humans evolved from monkeys or apes.
B) Evolution always proceeds from the simple to the complex.
C) Evolution eventually produces a perfect species.
D) Evolution is directed toward a final goal.
E) None of the answers listed above are true.

Question 63

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding evolution?

A) An individual organism in a population will evolve to adapt to its environment.
B) A population will evolve to adapt to its environment.
C) Individuals with favorable genes are selected for by natural selection.
D) If a trait is not genetically controlled, it cannot be passed on.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 64

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the theory of evolution?

A) It helps us understand the diversity of life on Earth and how populations change over time.
B) It is supported by a vast amount of evidence and is very likely not to be wrong.
C) Natural selection is the main mechanism by which populations adapt and evolve.
D) The pace of evolution is generally slow.
E) Evolution is just a theory that can be easily dismissed by available evidence.