Question 1

The biological species concept cannot be applied to ______.
A) fungi that live on land
B) bacteria that only reproduce asexually
C) complex plants that have flowers
D) animals that use asexual and sexual reproduction

Accepted Answer

The biological species concept defines a species as a group of interbreeding individuals that produce viable offspring. Bacteria that only reproduce asexually do not undergo sexual reproduction and do not exchange genetic material, so the concept cannot be applied to them.

Question 2

Biological species consist of groups of ______.
A) populations
B) domains
C) families
D) genera

Accepted Answer

Biological species are defined as groups of interbreeding populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups. Therefore, the correct choice is A, populations. Domains, families, and genera are higher taxonomic categories that are not directly related to the definition of a biological species.

Question 3

Some fish have bony fins.If the body of water they are in dries out,these fins can be used to help the fish "walk" to another body of water.In this context,bony fins are an example of ______.
A) an exaptation
B) neoteny
C) punctuated evolution
D) paedomorphosis

Accepted Answer

Bony fins were likely originally evolved for swimming, but in a dry environment, they provide a new function (walking) that was not originally selected for. This repurposing of a structure for a new function is an example of exaptation. Neoteny refers to the retention of juvenile features into adulthood, punctuated evolution refers to rapid bursts of evolutionary change interspersed with periods of little change, and paedomorphosis is a specific type of neoteny where the adult retains juvenile features of its ancestors. None of these concepts are directly applicable to the bony fins example.

Question 4

The biological species concept cannot be applied to fossils.Which alternate approach to identifying species would be most useful for classifying fossil organisms?
A) an approach based on use of ecological resources
B) an approach based on genetic history
C) an approach based on measurable physical traits
D) an approach based on molecular biology

Accepted Answer

A approach based on measurable physical traits would be most useful for classifying fossil organisms, as this is often the only evidence that remains. This approach is known as the morphological species concept, which defines a species based on physical characteristics that distinguish it from other species. While genetic and molecular approaches are useful for identifying species in living organisms, they are not always applicable to fossils, which may not have DNA or other intact biomolecules. Ecological resource use may also provide some information about the behavior and habitat of fossil organisms, but this approach alone is unlikely to provide enough information to distinguish different species.

Question 5

What type of reproductive isolating mechanism is described by a situation in which female fireflies only mate with males who emit light in a particular pattern?
A) habitat isolation
B) temporal isolation
C) mechanical isolation
D) behavioral isolation

Accepted Answer

Behavioral isolation occurs when individuals of a species have specific behaviors or rituals that are necessary for successful mating. In this case, female fireflies only mate with males who emit light in a specific pattern, which is a behavioral isolation mechanism.

Question 6

When brought together in a zoo,two species are capable of mating and producing fertile offspring.Why may they still be considered two distinct species?
A) Wild populations of the two species have different geographic distributions.
B) In the wild, members of one species prey upon members of the other species.
C) Zoos are not natural environments.
D) The two species look very different.

Accepted Answer

Zoos are not natural environments and are not representative of the wild populations of the two species. Therefore, the fact that they can mate and produce fertile offspring in a zoo does not necessarily mean they would be able to do so in the wild. Furthermore, the concept of species is based on reproductive isolation in the natural environment, not just the ability to produce offspring in an artificial setting.

Question 7

Sympatric speciation specifically excludes ______.
A) behavioral isolation
B) post-zygotic barriers
C) geographic isolation
D) temporal isolation

Accepted Answer

Sympatric speciation takes place within the same geographical area, meaning that geographic isolation cannot be a factor leading to speciation in this case. Temporal isolation and behavioral isolation can still occur within a sympatric population, while post-zygotic barriers can also be a factor in speciation even without geographic isolation.

Question 8

The type of reproductive barrier that occurs when two species mate but produce sterile hybrids is referred to as ______.
A) mechanical isolation
B) temporal isolation
C) a postzygotic barrier
D) behavioral isolation

Accepted Answer

This is a postzygotic barrier because it occurs after fertilization and the formation of a hybrid, which is sterile and cannot produce viable offspring. Mechanical isolation and behavioral isolation occur before mating, while temporal isolation refers to differences in breeding times.

Question 9

Which of the following describes allopatric speciation?
A) A population of squirrels is separated by the Grand Canyon. The two subpopulations evolve into two distinct species.
B) A tetraploid plant species evolves from a diploid ancestor. Both the tetraploid and diploid species are found in the same habitat.
C) One population breeds in the fall; another population breeds in the spring.
D) A male horse and a female donkey mate, producing a sterile hinny.

Accepted Answer

Allopatric speciation occurs when a population is physically separated by a geographic barrier, such as a river, mountain range, or canyon. Over time, the two subpopulations experience different selective pressures and evolve into two distinct species. This process is a common mode of speciation in nature. The other choices do not accurately describe allopatric speciation.

Question 10

A pattern of evolution in which most change in appearance takes place during a relatively short period of time fits the ______ model of speciation.
A) punctuated gradual
B) punctuated equilibrium
C) homeostatic
D) gradual

Accepted Answer

The description provided fits the punctuated equilibrium model of speciation, in which long periods of little change (equilibrium) are punctuated by sudden bursts of rapid change (punctuation). This results in species changing relatively quickly over a short period of time, rather than gradually over a longer period.

Question 11

When two frog species,Rana pipiens and Rana sylvatica,mate,the offspring die early in embryonic development.This is an example of ______.
A) hybrid sterility
B) mechanical isolation
C) reduced hybrid viability
D) reduced hybrid fertility

Accepted Answer

Reduced hybrid viability refers to when the offspring of two different species of organisms have a lower chance of survival due to genetic incompatibilities. In this case, when Rana pipiens and Rana sylvatica mate, their hybrid offspring die early in embryonic development, indicating reduced hybrid viability. Hybrid sterility refers to when hybrids are unable to reproduce, while mechanical isolation and reduced hybrid fertility refer to different mechanisms of reproductive isolation that prevent successful mating or reproduction between different species.

Question 12

Uranium-235,with a half-life of 713,000,000 years,decays to lead-207.If a rock sample is determined to have one-quarter of the uranium-235 content it had when it formed,the age of the rock sample can be estimated to be approximately ______ years old.
A) 178 million
B) 713 million
C) 28.5 billion
D) 1.4 billion

Accepted Answer

The answer of Uranium-235,with a half-life of 713,000,000 years,decays to...

Question 13

Feathers in birds appear to have first evolved for insulation but later conveyed a new advantage in helping create light aerodynamic surfaces.This switch in function is an example of ______.
A) paedomorphosis
B) punctuated equilibrium
C) convergent evolution
D) an exaptation

Accepted Answer

The switch in feather function from insulation to aiding in flight is an example of an exaptation, which is a structure or behavior that evolved in one context but became beneficial in a different context.

Question 14

Which of the following would be an example of paedomorphosis?
A) starfish regenerating severed limbs
B) rapid evolution in a small, isolated population
C) two species evolving a similar appearance
D) the ability to reproduce evolving in caterpillars

Accepted Answer

Paedomorphosis refers to the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood. The ability to reproduce evolving in caterpillars is an example of paedomorphosis as the juvenile form (caterpillar) cannot reproduce but the adult form (butterfly) can. The other answer choices do not involve the retention of juvenile traits.

Question 15

The current geological era is the ______.
A) Paleozoic
B) Cenozoic
C) Mesozoic
D) Cambrian

Accepted Answer

The current geological era is the Cenozoic. The Paleozoic era ended about 251 million years ago, the Mesozoic era ended about 66 million years ago, and the Cambrian period is a subdivision of the Paleozoic era. Therefore, the best choice is B, Cenozoic.

Question 16

You are examining the fossil record and notice that through time a series of fossils exhibits very little change.During the period of time you are studying,this fossil lineage can be described as exhibiting ______.
A) genetic drift
B) punctuation
C) gradualism
D) equilibrium

Accepted Answer

The fossil lineage exhibiting very little change over time indicates that it is in equilibrium, which means that there is no significant evolutionary change occurring. This is also known as stasis. Genetic drift refers to random fluctuations in allele frequencies, and punctuated equilibrium and gradualism both describe patterns of evolution that involve periods of sudden change or long, slow change, respectively.

Question 17

Under the biological species concept,what criterion is used to assign populations of organisms to the same biological species?
A) a very similar appearance
B) being able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring
C) relating to the environment in the same way
D) having 99% of their genes in common

Accepted Answer

The biological species concept defines a species as a group of populations whose members have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring but cannot produce viable, fertile offspring with members of other populations. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not address the interbreeding aspect of the biological species concept.

Question 18

A reproductive barrier that prevents species from mating is an example of ______.
A) a prezygotic barrier
B) reduced hybrid viability
C) zygote mortality
D) a postzygotic barrier

Accepted Answer

A reproductive barrier that prevents species from mating is a prezygotic barrier, meaning it occurs before fertilization (zygote formation) can take place. Reduced hybrid viability and zygote mortality are postzygotic barriers that occur after fertilization.

Question 19

Speciation requires ______.
A) periods of rapid evolutionary change
B) geographic isolation
C) long periods of time
D) genetic isolation

Accepted Answer

Speciation requires genetic isolation, which means that a reproductive barrier arises between two groups of organisms that prevents them from interbreeding and producing viable offspring. This can occur through various mechanisms, such as geographical isolation, behavioral isolation, or genetic divergence. While periods of rapid evolutionary change, long periods of time, and geographical isolation can all contribute to speciation, they are not always necessary or sufficient for it to occur.

Question 20

Graphically,the graduated model of speciation can be described as appearing as a ______.
A) Y
B) W
C) horizontal line with vertical branches
D) vertical line with horizontal branches

Accepted Answer

The answer of Graphically,the graduated model of speciation can be...

Quiz 14: How Biological Diversity Evolves

The biological species concept cannot be applied to ______.

Biological species consist of groups of ______.

Some fish have bony fins.If the body of water they are in dries out,these fins can be used to help the fish "walk" to another body of water.In this context,bony fins are an example of ______.

The biological species concept cannot be applied to fossils.Which alternate approach to identifying species would be most useful for classifying fossil organisms?

What type of reproductive isolating mechanism is described by a situation in which female fireflies only mate with males who emit light in a particular pattern?

When brought together in a zoo,two species are capable of mating and producing fertile offspring.Why may they still be considered two distinct species?

Sympatric speciation specifically excludes ______.

The type of reproductive barrier that occurs when two species mate but produce sterile hybrids is referred to as ______.

Which of the following describes allopatric speciation?

A pattern of evolution in which most change in appearance takes place during a relatively short period of time fits the ______ model of speciation.

When two frog species,Rana pipiens and Rana sylvatica,mate,the offspring die early in embryonic development.This is an example of ______.

Uranium-235,with a half-life of 713,000,000 years,decays to lead-207.If a rock sample is determined to have one-quarter of the uranium-235 content it had when it formed,the age of the rock sample can be estimated to be approximately ______ years old.

Feathers in birds appear to have first evolved for insulation but later conveyed a new advantage in helping create light aerodynamic surfaces.This switch in function is an example of ______.

Which of the following would be an example of paedomorphosis?

The current geological era is the ______.

You are examining the fossil record and notice that through time a series of fossils exhibits very little change.During the period of time you are studying,this fossil lineage can be described as exhibiting ______.

Under the biological species concept,what criterion is used to assign populations of organisms to the same biological species?

A reproductive barrier that prevents species from mating is an example of ______.

Speciation requires ______.

Graphically,the graduated model of speciation can be described as appearing as a ______.