Question 1

Since the peak of the last glaciation,global temperatures have risen by about 8 degrees Celsius.Pollen records indicate:

Accepted Answer

A)   All flora have responded the same by expanding their range
B)   Some tree species have retreated their range
C)   Some tree species have expanded their range
D)   That trees were not expanding or contracting their range B,C

Question 2

A plant species is found on the mainland of Africa and a migratory bird species feeds on its seeds.These birds arrive on an island,defecate,and leave the seeds on this island.Let us assume the seeds will germinate.Over evolutionary time,what may become of these plants on the island?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nothing, because they are sterile
B)   They may evolve into endemic species since they are isolated from individuals of the original species on the mainland
C)   They will experience sympatric evolution with the original plants on the island
D)   Nothing, because they will never be able to exchange genetic material with the mainland population B

Question 3

A male bullfrog (Rana catesbeianus)is found to mate with more females and produce more offspring than any other male in a pond being studied.What would you say about this bullfrog's fitness?

Accepted Answer

A)   This males fitness is low compared to all other males in the pond
B)   This males fitness is intermediate compared to other males in the pond
C)   This males fitness is the highest of all other males sampled in the pond
D)   This male must have the loudest vocalization and be most aggressive C

Question 4

During the industrialization of England,a species of moth developed what is known as industrial melanism.What does this term refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is a phenomenon where a species rapidly changes colors in response to the environment
B)   It is a phenomenon where a black or blackish form of a species reaches a high frequency in a population due to soot pollution from industrialism
C)   The phenomenon illustrates that species that are dark in color are being selected against in an industrial area
D)   None of the above

Question 5

Norfolk Island,located approximately 700 km from New Caledonia and New Zealand is an island where many endemic species have evolved.If more species in a group found on that island were better dispersers then you would expect:

Accepted Answer

A)   Those groups to have a lower proportion of endemic species
B)   Those groups to have a higher proportion of endemic species
C)   Those groups to be all endemics on New Caledonia
D)   Those groups to be all endemics on New Zealand

Question 6

Two adjacent populations of a species of deer may not diverge completely if:

Accepted Answer

A)   There is migration between populations, but no exchange of genetic material
B)   There is no migration
C)   There are reciprocal transplants
D)   There is migration between populations, and an exchange of genetic material

Question 7

As climate has changed over evolutionary time scales,different organisms have responded by:

Accepted Answer

A)   Advancing their range
B)   Becoming fragmented into isolated patches
C)   Retreating their range
D)   Eventually rejoining after being fragmented

Question 8

A seismic event occurs,splitting a population of wolves in two.One half of the population is now exposed to a very mountainous and rocky habitat with much snow,while the other half of the population is left to live in a wooded forest habitat.After thousands of generations,another seismic event occurs and the population of wolves is now able to be one again.However,they will no longer mate with one another.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)   Allopatric speciation
B)   Sympatric speciation
C)   Hybridization
D)   None of the above.

Question 9

Present day distribution patterns of plants and animals are primarily due to:

Accepted Answer

A)   Changes in climate, particularly during the ice ages of the Pleistocene.
B)   Reciprocal transplantation
C)   Co-evolving relationships
D)   Island speciation events

Question 10

You are at a museum and observe that the wing of a preserved bat resembles the wing of nearby preserved bird.You hypothesize that

Accepted Answer

A)   The structures are similar superficially in form and are therefore analogous because they did not share a recent common ancestor
B)   The structures are similar superficially in form, the wings are homologous structures
C)   The structures are homologous and are therefore derived from an equivalent structure in a shared common ancestor
D)   The structures are analogous and are therefore derived from an equivalent structure in a shared common ancestor

Question 11

______ structures are similar in superficial form or function.

Accepted Answer

A)   Analogous
B)   Homologous
C)   Sympatric
D)   Synonymous

Question 12

Ecological speciation is comprised of which components:

Accepted Answer

A)   Differing environments or ecological interactions that select for local adaptation
B)   A means of reproductive isolation
C)   Hybridization
D)   All of the above

Question 13

Changes in temperature in the North Sea over the past million years caused changes in sea level that:

Accepted Answer

A)   Prevented the dispersal of animals and plants between land masses
B)   Caused almost all animals to go extinct
C)   Allowed for dispersal of both plants and animals between land masses
D)   None of the above

Question 14

If a structure is superficial in form or function and is not derived from a common ancestor it is ________.However,if the structure is derived from an equivalent structure in a common ancestor it is considered _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   Homologous, analogous
B)   Analogous, convergent
C)   Approximately 1000 times slower
D)   Analogous, homologous

Question 15

Which scientist devised an orderly system for naming different organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)   Charles Darwin
B)   Ernst Mayr
C)   Carl Linnaeus
D)   Alfred Russell Wallace

Question 16

A student wants to test if a sessile species of a marine invertebrate (Actinia tenebrosa)grows differently in size and survives differently in a new environment where the water temperature and salinity are considerably different than where this organism typically grows.What type of experiment would allow this student to test for the local adaptation of this species?

Accepted Answer

A)   A reciprocal transplant study
B)   A cross correlation translocation study
C)   A model study
D)   A translocation approximation study

Question 17

You learn that many plants are chemically defended and that herbivorous predators have developed resistance to many of these plant defenses.However,it appears that plants have responded to herbivore resistance by producing more chemical defenses,which in turn deters some herbivores.Evidently,this process has occurred many times over the last millions of years.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)   Reciprocal transplantation
B)   Co-evolution
C)   Allopatric speciation
D)   Mutualism

Question 18

The theory of evolution by means of natural selection relies on what established truths?

Accepted Answer

A)   Variation is heritable
B)   There is differential reproductive success
C)   Individuals of a population of species are not identical
D)   All individuals are favored by natural selection

Question 19

A structure that is derived from an equivalent structure in a common ancestor is called _________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Homologous
B)   Synonymous
C)   Analogous
D)   Divergent

Question 20

As Gondwanaland broke up,bands of vegetation developed nearly 100 million years later.Forty million years later distinct vegetation and climate were established.From when Gondwanaland began to break up,which process do you think most likely unfolded?

Accepted Answer

A)   Ecological speciation
B)   All organisms evolved into unique species as a result of sympatric speciation
C)   No speciation likely occurred
D)   No process likely started because that is not enough time for any species to evolve

Exam 2: Ecology’s Evolutionary Backdrop