Question 1

Which of the following factors involved in the Cambrian explosion was likely not due to a changing ocean chemistry?

Accepted Answer

A)  increased oxygen levels 
B)  increased nutrients from soil erosion 
C)  evolution of genetic toolkit 
D)  evolution of biomineralization 
A)  increased oxygen levels 
B)  increased nutrients from soil erosion 
C)  evolution of genetic toolkit 
D)  evolution of biomineralization

Question 2

The Cambrian period began

Accepted Answer

A)  720 million years ago. 
B)  635 million years ago. 
C)  541 million years ago. 
D)  252 million years ago. 
A)  720 million years ago. 
B)  635 million years ago. 
C)  541 million years ago. 
D)  252 million years ago.

Question 3

Why do scientists argue that climate change may be leading to a mass extinction?

Accepted Answer

Scientists argue that climate change may

Question 4

Wings may not necessarily be a key innovation for Insecta, but rather a key innovation for lineages within Insecta. For example, Coleoptera, the most diverse group of insects, have forewings that are modified as a hardened elytra and membranous hindwings for flight. How might wings have increased the success of Coleoptera?

Accepted Answer

A)  The elytra protect the hindwings from desiccation and cold temperatures. 
B)  The elytra protect the hindwings from abrasion and tearing. 
C)  The elytra protect the beetle from predation. 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above 
A)  The elytra protect the hindwings from desiccation and cold temperatures. 
B)  The elytra protect the hindwings from abrasion and tearing. 
C)  The elytra protect the beetle from predation. 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above

Question 5

Extinction of a species can occur from

Accepted Answer

A)  habitat loss. 
B)  competition with other species. 
C)  inability to withstand physical environment. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c 
A)  habitat loss. 
B)  competition with other species. 
C)  inability to withstand physical environment. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c

Question 6

Based on the history of marsupial colonization, extinction, and vicariant events, which of the following should be true of currently existing marsupials?

Accepted Answer

A)  A phylogenetic tree should demonstrate that North American marsupials are the closest living relatives to Australian marsupials. 
B)  South American marsupials should be the closest living relatives to Australian marsupials. 
C)  South American marsupials should be the closest living relatives to North American marsupials. 
D)  none of the above 
A)  A phylogenetic tree should demonstrate that North American marsupials are the closest living relatives to Australian marsupials. 
B)  South American marsupials should be the closest living relatives to Australian marsupials. 
C)  South American marsupials should be the closest living relatives to North American marsupials. 
D)  none of the above

Question 7

Which of the following is true regarding atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are currently well above the average of the past 600,000 years. 
B)  They are currently well below the average of the past 600,000 years. 
C)  Similar deviations from the average have occurred over the last 600,000 years. 
D)  a and c 
A)  They are currently well above the average of the past 600,000 years. 
B)  They are currently well below the average of the past 600,000 years. 
C)  Similar deviations from the average have occurred over the last 600,000 years. 
D)  a and c

Question 8

When evolutionary biologists adapt population growth models to measure diversity, death rate is substituted for

Accepted Answer

A)  origination rate. 
B)  emigration rate. 
C)  extinction rate. 
D)  turnover rate. 
A)  origination rate. 
B)  emigration rate. 
C)  extinction rate. 
D)  turnover rate.

Question 9

Which of the following mass extinctions was the largest?

Accepted Answer

A)  Permian 
B)  Cretaceous 
C)  Ordovician 
D)  Triassic 
E)  Devonian 
A)  Permian 
B)  Cretaceous 
C)  Ordovician 
D)  Triassic 
E)  Devonian

Question 10

What is an example of how we depend on biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bees and other insects pollinate our crops. 
B)  Wetlands purify water. 
C)  Coral reefs support fish needed for food or income. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  Bees and other insects pollinate our crops. 
B)  Wetlands purify water. 
C)  Coral reefs support fish needed for food or income. 
D)  all of the above

Question 11

Which of the following is true in reference to the major evolutionary faunas?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Cambrian fauna is now extinct. 
B)  The Modern fauna originated in the Cambrian. 
C)  The Paleozoic fauna never rebounded to previous levels of diversity after the Permian extinction. 
D)  The Modern fauna has persisted for the least amount of time. 
A)  The Cambrian fauna is now extinct. 
B)  The Modern fauna originated in the Cambrian. 
C)  The Paleozoic fauna never rebounded to previous levels of diversity after the Permian extinction. 
D)  The Modern fauna has persisted for the least amount of time.

Question 12

Younger fossils are often morphologically different from older fossils in a lineage. How do paleontologists think the morphological transition happened?

Accepted Answer

A)  The younger fossils are a species that underwent anagenesis, gradually evolving a new morphology. 
B)  The younger fossils are a new species that branched off the older one, rapidly evolving a new morphology. 
C)  The younger fossils are likely a new species from a different lineage that migrated to the area. 
D)  a and b 
E)  none of the above 
A)  The younger fossils are a species that underwent anagenesis, gradually evolving a new morphology. 
B)  The younger fossils are a new species that branched off the older one, rapidly evolving a new morphology. 
C)  The younger fossils are likely a new species from a different lineage that migrated to the area. 
D)  a and b 
E)  none of the above

Question 13

Bryozoan lineages in the fossil record

Accepted Answer

A)  changed gradually over time. 
B)  show little to no change. 
C)  show punctuated change. 
D)  changed once in the Modern fauna. 
A)  changed gradually over time. 
B)  show little to no change. 
C)  show punctuated change. 
D)  changed once in the Modern fauna.

Question 14

Why did paleobiologist David Raup use marine invertebrate fossils to calculate changes in biodiversity through time?

Accepted Answer

A)  They made mineralized tissue that fossilized easily. 
B)  They were soft-bodied organisms that fossilized easily. 
C)  Many species had large populations that left an abundant fossil record. 
D)  a and c 
E)  b and c 
A)  They made mineralized tissue that fossilized easily. 
B)  They were soft-bodied organisms that fossilized easily. 
C)  Many species had large populations that left an abundant fossil record. 
D)  a and c 
E)  b and c

Question 15

How did an increased understanding of plate tectonics help biogeographers better understand the distribution of species?

Accepted Answer

An increased understanding of plate tect

Question 16

Trilobites went extinct

Accepted Answer

A)  500 million years ago, not associated with a mass extinction. 
B)  443.8 million years ago, associated with the Ordovician extinction. 
C)  358.9 million years ago, associated with the Devonian extinction. 
D)  251.9 million years ago, associated with the Permian extinction. 
E)  201.3 million years ago, associated with the Triassic extinction. 
A)  500 million years ago, not associated with a mass extinction. 
B)  443.8 million years ago, associated with the Ordovician extinction. 
C)  358.9 million years ago, associated with the Devonian extinction. 
D)  251.9 million years ago, associated with the Permian extinction. 
E)  201.3 million years ago, associated with the Triassic extinction.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of arthropods?

Accepted Answer

A)  Synapomorphies among arthropods include exoskeletons made of chitin and a jointed body plan. 
B)  Some early Cambrian fossils share some synapomorphies with arthropods. 
C)  Arthropods probably came to existence in the Cambrian fully formed. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c 
A)  Synapomorphies among arthropods include exoskeletons made of chitin and a jointed body plan. 
B)  Some early Cambrian fossils share some synapomorphies with arthropods. 
C)  Arthropods probably came to existence in the Cambrian fully formed. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c

Which of the following factors involved in the Cambrian explosion was likely not due to a changing ocean chemistry?

The Cambrian period began

Why do scientists argue that climate change may be leading to a mass extinction?

Extinction of a species can occur from

Based on the history of marsupial colonization, extinction, and vicariant events, which of the following should be true of currently existing marsupials?

Which of the following is true regarding atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?

When evolutionary biologists adapt population growth models to measure diversity, death rate is substituted for

Which of the following mass extinctions was the largest?

What is an example of how we depend on biodiversity?

Which of the following is true in reference to the major evolutionary faunas?

Younger fossils are often morphologically different from older fossils in a lineage. How do paleontologists think the morphological transition happened?

Bryozoan lineages in the fossil record

Why did paleobiologist David Raup use marine invertebrate fossils to calculate changes in biodiversity through time?

How did an increased understanding of plate tectonics help biogeographers better understand the distribution of species?

Trilobites went extinct

Which of the following is true of arthropods?

The Whale and the Virus: How Scientists Study Evolution

From Natural Philosophy to Darwin: a Brief History of Evolutionary Ideas

What the Rocks Say: How Geology and Paleontology Reveal the History of Life

The Tree of Life: How Biologists Use Phylogeny to Reconstruct the Deep Past

Raw Material: Heritable Variation Among Individuals

The Ways of Change: Drift and Selection

Beyond Alleles: Quantitative Genetics and the Evolution of Phenotypes

The History in Our Genes

From Genes to Traits: the Evolution of Genetic Networks and Development

Natural Selection: Empirical Studies in the Wild

Sex: Causes and Consequences

After Conception: the Evolution of Life History and Parental Care

The Origin of Species

Intimate Partnerships: How Species Adapt to Each Other

Brains and Behavior

Human Evolution: a New Kind of Ape

Evolutionary Medicine

Filters

Exam 14: Macroevolution: the Long Run

Which of the following factors involved in the Cambrian explosion was likely not due to a changing ocean chemistry?

The Cambrian period began

Why do scientists argue that climate change may be leading to a mass extinction?

Extinction of a species can occur from

Based on the history of marsupial colonization, extinction, and vicariant events, which of the following should be true of currently existing marsupials?

Which of the following is true regarding atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?

When evolutionary biologists adapt population growth models to measure diversity, death rate is substituted for

Which of the following mass extinctions was the largest?

What is an example of how we depend on biodiversity?

Which of the following is true in reference to the major evolutionary faunas?

Younger fossils are often morphologically different from older fossils in a lineage. How do paleontologists think the morphological transition happened?

Bryozoan lineages in the fossil record

Why did paleobiologist David Raup use marine invertebrate fossils to calculate changes in biodiversity through time?

How did an increased understanding of plate tectonics help biogeographers better understand the distribution of species?

Trilobites went extinct

Which of the following is true of arthropods?

The Whale and the Virus: How Scientists Study Evolution

From Natural Philosophy to Darwin: a Brief History of Evolutionary Ideas

What the Rocks Say: How Geology and Paleontology Reveal the History of Life

The Tree of Life: How Biologists Use Phylogeny to Reconstruct the Deep Past

Raw Material: Heritable Variation Among Individuals

The Ways of Change: Drift and Selection

Beyond Alleles: Quantitative Genetics and the Evolution of Phenotypes

The History in Our Genes

From Genes to Traits: the Evolution of Genetic Networks and Development

Natural Selection: Empirical Studies in the Wild

Sex: Causes and Consequences

After Conception: the Evolution of Life History and Parental Care

The Origin of Species

Intimate Partnerships: How Species Adapt to Each Other

Brains and Behavior

Human Evolution: a New Kind of Ape

Evolutionary Medicine

Filters