Exam 4: Biodiversity and Evolution

Even if a beneficial heritable trait is present in a population, the population's ability to adapt may be limited by its reproductive capacity.

____ is the type of diversity that describes the number and variety of species present in any biological community.

An intertidal species of sea star helps to maintain the diversity of the intertidal region by controlling the mussel population. Without the sea star, the mussel population would crowd out other species and take over their territory. The sea star could be called a(n) ____.

All nonnative species threaten ecosystems.

Artificial selection can be achieved by ____.

A trait that creates a specific advantage for some organisms in the struggle to survive ____.

Typically speaking, organisms that are described as ____________________ tend to have broad niches.

Burmese pythons have been introduced to the Everglades and there is concern that they may harm populations of native species such as alligators.

External agents such as radioactivity, ultraviolet radiation, and some chemicals are ____when they cause mutations.

____________________ are mineralized or petrified replicas of skeletons, bones, teeth, shells, leaves, and seeds, or imprints of such items found in rocks.

Similar fossils have been found in countries that are now separated by large amounts of water that would have formed a formidable barrier. What is the best explanation for these fossils?

Why doesn't "survival of the fittest" mean "survival of the strongest"?

Which statement is true with regard to keystone species?

Evolution by natural selection involves a grand plan of nature in which species are to become increasingly more perfectly adapted to their environments.

The variety of genes found in a species or population is known as ____.

Sharks are especially vulnerable to population declines because ____.

Holding the pen or pencil for taking this exam is one of the things you can do as a human because you have _____________________.

Viral and fungal diseases are among the factors that threaten amphibians.

Humans have been responsible for all species extinctions.

Cockroaches have a wide range of tolerance of environmental conditions, so they are considered a specialist species.