Deck 4: Adaptations to Variable Environments

Question 1

When a given phenotype has higher fitness in one environment and different phenotypes have higher fitness in other environments, this is considered to be

A) phenotypic plasticity.
B) an environmental cue.
C) a phenotypic trade-off.
D) acclimation.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Describe how a moving animal experiences spatial variation as environmental change over time, and provide an example.

Answer 2

As an animal moves through an area, it encounters new environmental conditions. If it moves quickly, it encounters new environments more rapidly than if it moves slowly. Humans climbing from sea level to the tops of high mountains encounter a wide range of conditions, from changing temperature to reduced oxygen.

Question 3

Use the following graphs and information to answer questions 13, 14, and 15. This figure shows the tail shape developed by three tadpole genotypes (M, N, and O), when raised in an environment with predators and an environment without predators. In the presence of predators, tadpoles with large tails have high fitness and tadpoles with small tails have low fitness. When predators are not present, tadpoles with large tails have low fitness and tadpoles with small tails have high fitness.

Which genotype(s) would have the highest average fitness across both environments?
a. M only
b. N only
c. O only
d. both M and N
e. both N and O
answer c

Question 4

When the protist Euplotes detects predators, it grows "wings" and other projections to discourage predators. However, developing the projections and wings slows down growth. This is an example of
I) phenotypic trade-offs.
II) phenotypic plasticity.
III) inbreeding depression.

A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) I and II only
E) I, II, and III

Question 5

Use the following graphs and information to answer questions 13, 14, and 15. This figure shows the tail shape developed by three tadpole genotypes (M, N, and O), when raised in an environment with predators and an environment without predators. In the presence of predators, tadpoles with large tails have high fitness and tadpoles with small tails have low fitness. When predators are not present, tadpoles with large tails have low fitness and tadpoles with small tails have high fitness.

Which genotype(s) exhibit(s) phenotypic plasticity in response to predators?

A) M only
B) N only
C) O only
D) both M and N
E) both N and O

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of weather?

A) The average annual rainfall in a North American desert is 33 cm per year.
B) The average summer temperature at a specific location has increased from 30°C in the 1950s to 32°C in the 1990s.
C) A single location received 10 cm of snow on January 1, 2011, but no snow on January 2, 2011.
D) The composition of the soil differs between the coastal beaches and the eastern forests of North America.

Question 7

Consider an area in which plants change from one group of species to another group of species over a distance of 20 cm. How might this scale of variation affect two herbivores- aphids (very small insects) and moose (large mammals)?

A) Aphids would be more strongly affected by this gradient.
B) Moose would be more strongly affected by this gradient.
C) Neither would be affected by this gradient.
D) They would be equally affected by this gradient.

Question 8

The average annual rainfall measured in a desert over 10 years is which type of variation?

A) weather
B) climate
C) spatial
D) phenotypic

Question 9

Under which of the following situations would the plastic genotype be favoured over other genotypes?
I) if all environments have predators
II) if no environments have predators
III) if environments with predators are as common as environments without predators

A) situation I
B) situation II
C) situation III
D) situations I and II
E) situations I and III

Question 10

Which of the following types of environmental variation can change over time?
I) weather
II) climate
III) spatial variation

A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) both I and II
E) I, II, and III

Question 11

Long-duration environmental events usually take place over _____ spatial scale(s).

A) a small
B) an intermediate
C) a large
D) both large and small

Question 12

Why are phenotypic trade-offs necessary for adaptive phenotypic plasticity to evolve?

Question 13

Which shows the order of phenotypically plastic traits from those that typically respond most rapidly to those that typically respond least rapidly?

A) behaviour, morphology, physiology
B) physiology, morphology, behaviour
C) behaviour, physiology, morphology
D) morphology, behaviour, physiology
E) morphology, physiology, behaviour.

Question 14

Which lists the correct order from events that affect the smallest spatial scale to events that affect the largest spatial scale?

A) thunderstorms, monsoons, hurricanes
B) thunderstorms, hurricanes, monsoons
C) monsoons, thunderstorms, hurricanes
D) hurricanes, thunderstorms, monsoons

Question 15

Some individuals exhibit adaptive phenotypic plasticity in response to competition from members of their own species. Why would food availability probably be a more reliable cue than the number of conspecifics about the amount of competition for food?

Question 16

Using an example, describe how the same level of temporal variation in the environment may be perceived differently by different species of animals.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about environmental cues is (are) TRUE?
I) Environmental cues are necessary for an organism to evolve adaptive phenotypic plasticity.
II) Environmental cues can include smell, sight, and sound.
III) Environmental cues are used by animals but not by plants.

A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) I and II
E) I, II, and III

Question 18

Which lists the correct order from slowest to fastest?

A) change in landforms, spatial heterogeneity in oceans, atmospheric processes
B) atmospheric processes, change in landforms, heterogeneity in oceans
C) change in landforms, atmospheric processes, heterogeneity in oceans
D) heterogeneity in oceans, atmospheric processes, change in landforms

Question 19

Phenotypic plasticity

A) refers to an environment that varies.
B) occurs when a single phenotype has different fitness in different environments.
C) is a type of environmental cue.
D) is the ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes.

Question 20

Environmentally induced changes in an individual's physiology are called

A) acclimation.
B) environmental cues.
C) phenotypic trade-offs.
D) nonplastic genotypes.

Question 21

Based on the nearby figure, describe the phenotypic trade-offs of a fish being acclimated to 25°C compared with a fish acclimated to 5°C.

Question 22

If a goldfish is acclimated at 25°C, at which temperature would we expect the fish to swim fastest?

A) 5°C
B) 25°C
C) 40°C
D) equally fast at all temperatures

Question 23

Explain why many prey species reduce activity when they detect predators but have high activity when they do not detect predators.

Question 24

When humans move from low elevations to high elevations, it typically takes one or more weeks for their bodies to improve their ability to carry oxygen. This is an example of

A) microhabitat use.
B) acclimation.
C) aestivation.
D) migration.

Question 25

In response to a specific type of environmental variation, the Burmese python can drastically increase the size of its heart and length of its intestines in less than 2 days. What environmental variation causes this drastic change?

A) variation in predators
B) variation in availability of food
C) variation in availability of mates
D) variation in temperature

Question 26

A specific location within the area where an animal lives and typically contains more favourable abiotic conditions than other locations in the area is a

A) microhabitat.
B) torpor.
C) acclimation.
D) climate.

Question 27

Which statement about predator and prey phenotypic plasticity is accurate?
I) Prey can change morphology to avoid predators.
II) Predators can change morphology to capture prey.
III) Both predators and prey exhibit phenotypic trade-offs.

A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) I and II only
E) I, II, and III

Question 28

Refer to the nearby figure to answer this question.
Describe the phenotypic plasticity of common pond snails in the absence of mates, and explain the costs and benefits of that phenotypic plasticity.

Question 29

Describe two ways in which a desert lizard can survive high summer temperatures.

Question 30

Over the course of a day, a snake will move from place to place to reach its preferred body temperature. This is an example of

A) microhabitat use.
B) acclimation.
C) aestivation.
D) migration.

Question 31

During the course of two generations, monarch butterflies move from southern Canada to Mexico, spend the winter in Mexico, and then return to Southern Canada. This is an example of

A) climate.
B) migration.
C) storage.
D) foraging.

Question 32

Which of the following are phenotypically plastic responses of plants to reduced water availability?
I) develop trichomes and produce more glucosinolate
II) close stomata in leaves
III) increase the root/shoot ratio

A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) I and II only
E) II, and III only

Question 33

Plants develop trichomes and produce glucosinolates as adaptive phenotypic plasticity to

A) reduce competition for resources.
B) attract pollinators for reproduction.
C) protect against herbivores.
D) survive harsh drought conditions.

Question 34

What is an example of how jewelweed plants exhibit adaptive phenotypic plasticity in response to competition from other plants?

A) develop trichomes and glucosinolates
B) grow shorter stems
C) grow longer stems
D) close stomata in leaves

Question 35

One cost of self-fertilization in the absence of mates is

A) inbreeding depression.
B) physiological acclimation.
C) migration.
D) handling time.

Question 36

The phenotypic plasticity that allows a copepod to survive being moved from salt water to fresh water is similar to the phenotypic plasticity of a human moved from low elevation to high elevation because both are

A) examples of behavioural phenotypic plasticity.
B) examples of morphological phenotypic plasticity.
C) examples of physiological phenotypic plasticity.
D) changes that cannot be reversed.

Question 37

Consider the nearby figure, which shows how Virginia pepperweed responds to herbivores. Which of the following conclusions can we make solely using the data shown?
I) Plants increased glucosinolate production when aphids were present.
II) Plants with more glucosinolate and trichomes had fewer aphids.
III) Producing glucosinolate and trichomes reduced plant fitness when aphids were absent.

A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) I and II only
E) I, II, and III

Question 38

What types of plants and animals are able to reproduce even if they cannot find a mate?

A) predators
B) competitors
C) hermaphrodites
D) inbred organisms

Question 39

Topic: Many organisms have evolved adaptations to variable abiotic conditions.
Level: medium

Question 40

Tigriopus copepods living in ocean tide pools are subject to frequent changes in salt concentrations. In response to these drastic changes in salinity, Tigriopus copepods change the amount of amino acids in their bodies, which allows the osmotic potential of their body fluids to match that of the tide pool. This is an example of

A) microhabitat use.
B) acclimation.
C) aestivation.
D) torpor.

Question 41

Consider a mouse that can forage in one of two fields. The south field has three times more seeds than the north field. However, an owl (a predator that eats mice) lives at the south field. The mouse forages in the north field despite the fact that it contains less food. This is an example of:
a. optimal diet composition.
b. diet mixing.
c. risk-sensitive foraging.
d. central-place foraging.

Question 42

A fox that catches prey in several fields but brings the prey back to a single den to feed its young is an example of

A) optimal diet composition.
B) diet mixing.
C) risk-sensitive foraging.
D) central-place foraging.

Question 43

A forager that selects food type based on a balance of the energy provided, handling time, and abundance displays

A) optimal diet composition.
B) diet mixing.
C) risk-sensitive foraging.
D) central-place foraging.

Question 44

Many Arctic animals accumulate fat as an energy reserve that allows them to survive winter when food is difficult to obtain. This strategy is an example of

A) migration.
B) storage.
C) dormancy.
D) diapause.

Question 45

An animal that consumes a varied diet because a single food does not contain all necessary nutrients is an example of

A) optimal diet composition.
B) diet mixing.
C) risk-sensitive foraging.
D) central-place foraging.

Question 46

An active hummingbird maintains its resting body temperature at approximately 40°C, while a torpid hummingbird maintains its resting body temperature at approximately 20°C. Explain how torpor allows hummingbirds to survive cold periods with little available food.

Question 47

Based on the central-place foraging theory and the nearby figure, identify the optimal number of prey for a forager to catch. In the figure the orange line indicates the optimal rate of prey capture.

A) 5 prey
B) 8 prey
C) 10 prey
D) 5, 8, and 10 prey are equally optimal

Question 48

Desert tortoises shut down metabolic processes for long periods during very hot and dry summer conditions. What form of dormancy is this?

A) diapause
B) hibernation
C) torpor
D) aestivation

Question 49

Experimental studies found that increased CO₂ caused some types of plants to increase their overall growth rates. What aspect of phenotypic plasticity contributed to the increase in growth rate?

A) increased production of trichomes
B) increased production of glucosinolate
C) decreased time that stomata are open
D) decrease in the size of the roots

Question 50

Why is it beneficial for birds and mammals with high surface-area-to-volume ratios to reduce their body temperature for short periods?

A) Reducing body temperature makes them less vulnerable to predators.
B) Reducing body temperature saves energy that would be consumed producing body heat.
C) Reducing body temperature allows them to gather more food.
D) Reducing body temperature prevents water loss.

Question 51

Explain the differences and similarities between storage and dormancy as adaptive strategies, and provide an example.

Question 52

What form of dormancy do mammals use to conserve energy and survive seasons during which they are unable to obtain food?

A) diapause
B) hibernation
C) torpor
D) aestivation

Question 53

Use the table to answer questions 49 and 50.
An ecologist is studying the relationship between a beetle species and a flower species. She examines six plants and counts the number of beetles and the number of flowers on each plant.

Which of the following terms best describes the data?

A) positive linear correlation
B) negative linear correlation
C) positive curvilinear correlation
D) negative curvilinear correlation

Question 54

A scientist is studying a bird that forages for worms and takes them back to its nest. If the relation between search time and the number of prey caught remains constant but the scientist moves the food closer, what change in the bird's behaviour would central-place foraging predict?

A) More worms would be brought back per trip.
B) The number of worms brought back would not change.
C) Fewer worms would be brought back per trip.
D) The bird would enter torpor.

Question 55

A heron, a large wading bird, is hunting in a pond that contains three types of prey: fish, frogs, and snakes. All three types of prey are abundant and provide the same amount of energy to the heron. The heron has the highest handling time capturing fish, an intermediate handling time capturing snakes, and the lowest handling time capturing frogs. What prey item would foraging theory predict that the heron should catch most frequently?

A) fish
B) snakes
C) frogs
D) fish and frogs equally frequently

Question 56

Torpor is beneficial to animals because

A) it allows them to move away from dangerous conditions.
B) it allows them to acquire additional food.
C) it allows them to conserve energy.
D) it prevents them from freezing.

Question 57

Consider a species of squirrel that eats acorns and maple seeds. Define the diet-mixing hypothesis and describe an experiment that would test whether squirrels eat both acorns and seeds because of the diet-mixing hypothesis. As part of your answer, describe the experimental treatments, the response variable that would be measured, and results that would both support and reject the diet-mixing hypothesis.

Question 58

Use the table to answer questions 49 and 50.
An ecologist is studying the relationship between a beetle species and a flower species. She examines six plants and counts the number of beetles and the number of flowers on each plant.

What can we conclude from the data?

A) Flowers cause beetles to be more abundant.
B) Beetles cause plants to grow more flowers.
C) A third unmeasured variable causes both beetles and flowers to increase.
D) There is no relationship between flowers and beetles.

Question 59

Use the concept of phenotypic trade-offs to explain how foraging behaviour is a type of adaptive phenotypic plasticity.