Category 3 Biological Evolution and Classification

In the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), implantation of embryos after breeding is delayed.  The deer breed in July or August but do not give birth until the following May or June.  From summer to late December, the embryo rests in a state of dormancy as a 30-cell blastocyst.  In late December or early January, the embryo sends a signal that causes the female to release hormones, allowing the embryo to continue to develop normally.
Why is delayed implantation an advantageous adaptation for the European roe deer?

• Delayed implantation allows the mother to continue to breed with other males.
• Without delayed implantation, the females would not be able to carry a pregnancy to full term.
• Delayed implantation enables the female to give birth to more fawns each year.
• Without delayed implantation, the fawns would be born in the winter when food is scarce and the weather is harsh.

Frogs and toads belong to the order Anura.  The smallest organism in this order is about 7 millimeters long, while the largest member is about 30 centimeters long.  Which of these lists best describes this order?

• A
• B
• C
• D

A student wants to use the Venn diagram below to show the characteristics of two kingdoms of organisms.  The characteristics that the two kingdoms share will be listed in the shaded area where the circles intersect.
Which of these is a characteristic that the student should list in the shaded part of the diagram?

• Heterotroph
• Mobile
• Prokaryotic
• Multicellular

Two populations of mice living in the same forest are separated by a large water-filled ditch.  After a rainstorm, flooding brings several mice from one population to the other population.  When the mice from the first population reproduce with members of the second population, which of the following will likely occur?

• All the offspring will die as a result of reproductive mutations.
• The offspring will be forced to leave the second population.
• The offspring will be genetically identical to their parent from the first population.
• The offspring in the second population will have greater genetic variety.

An analysis of DNA and RNA sequences can be used to classify organisms.  A dendrogram, such as the one shown below, is based on molecular data. It can be used to represent evolutionary relationships within a group of organisms that are hypothesized to have descended from a common ancestor.
Which statement is best supported by the information in this dendrogram?

• Lesser pandas are more genetically similar to giant pandas than they are to raccoons.
• Brown bears are more genetically similar to giant pandas than they are to sun bears.
• Lesser pandas are more genetically similar to raccoons than they are to giant pandas.
• The bear species are all more genetically similar to dogs than they are to giant pandas.

Adult mountain lions (Puma concolor) are almost 2 meters long. They have a black spot over each eye. The common names used throughout the United States for this species are listed below.
Why is it best for scientists to use the name from the standardized taxonomic system?

• The standardized name differentiates mountain lions and pumas.
• The standardized name is less descriptive of the animal that has been observed.
  
• Communication with other scientists about mountain lions will be reduced.
• All scientists will be using one name for mountain lions.

A cladogram is shown below.
All the animals to the right of the hagfish would have the common characteristic of -

• Fur
• claws or nails
• lungs
• jaws

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Plants have developed many methods of seed dispersal.  The table below shows seeds of two different plants.
How has the seed dispersal method developed by these plants given them a reproductive advantage?

• The method ensures that offspring will be dispersed and reduces competition for resources.
• The method reduces the chance that herbivores will consume the seeds.
• The method lengthens the life cycle of each of these plants.
• The method reduces the plants’ need for water and other nutrients.

This diagram of the fossil record represents changes in mollusks over millions of years.
How can the pattern of change in the fossil record best be explained?

• The mollusks were well adapted to their stable environment.  A large, sudden change occurred in their environment. After the change the mollusks with the bigger shells were better adapted for the new environment.
• The mollusks were well adapted to their stable environment.  The mollusks hybridized with a smaller species of mollusk. A new species of mollusk with a bigger shell resulted.
• The mollusks were not well adapted to their environment. The length of the mollusks’ shells changed gradually over time. The mollusks in the original population that had small shells died over a period of many years.
• The mollusks were well adapted to their environment.  Humans introduced a new species of mollusk that was not adapted to this environment.  The introduced mollusk outcompeted the native mollusk species.

Three species of lizards of the genus Gallotia are found on the Canary Islands, a chain of seven volcanic islands off the west coast of Africa. The easternmost island, Lanzarote, is the oldest, while the westernmost island, El Hierro, is the youngest. The distribution of lizard species is shown on the map below.
Which statement about the ancestry of the lizards from the genus Gallotia is best supported by this information?

• The common ancestor of the lizards first colonized the island of El Hierro.
• The ancestors of each species came from different continents at different times.
• The common ancestor of the lizards probably came from Africa.
• The ancestors of each species evolved in Spain and were brought to the islands at the same time.