You have found fossils of a new species of ape that walks upright. After 11 additional years in the field you discover a fossil of what you think is the common ancestor of the new species of ape and all other gorillas. What types of data would give you the BEST information on the environment of this ancestral organism?
A)gene sequencing of the new species of ape
B)anatomical features of the new species of ape
C)behavior of the new species of ape
D)fossils of plants and animals found with the fossilized common ancestor
E)anatomical features of the fossilized common ancestor

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fossils of plants and animals found with the fossilized common ancestor would give the best information on the environment of this ancestral organism. This would provide direct evidence of the habitat and ecosystem in which the ancestral organism lived, allowing for a more complete understanding of its ecology. Gene sequencing of the new species of ape, anatomical features of the new species of ape, and behavior of the new species of ape may provide valuable information, but they would not be as directly applicable to the study of the ancestral organism. Anatomical features of the fossilized common ancestor would also be important, but would not provide direct evidence of the environment.

You Have Found Fossils of a New Species of Ape