Review Learning Check 4A natural selection

In a given population of plants there is variation in the time of day when flowers open. Those individual plants with flowers that open at night would be more likely to pass on this trait in an environment dominated by what?

• day pollinators

• nocturnal or night pollinators

• marine organisms

• none of the above.

A population of a certain kind of fish is introduced into a new habitat. These fish have variations in color from light to dark. Because of the lighting conditions and predators in this new habitat, light colored fish survive better near the surface and dark-colored fish survive better near the bottom.

What change would likely result after many generations of these fish living in this environment?

• a population of dark colored fish near the bottom and a light colored fish population near the surface.

• populations would mix and eventually be a light brown color.

• a population of dark colored fish near the top and a light colored fish near the bottom.

• The fish would become smaller overtime so they could defend themselves easier.

Some plants have developed a thick, waxy coating that helps prevent the loss of water. In order for plants to develop this thick, waxy coating over many generations, what must be true?

• The plants must live in a desert which requires a waxy coating to keep water in the plant.

• The plant must live in a rainy area so the wax will make raindrops roll off the surface of the plant.

• The plant must have a waxy variation so the amount of wax on the plant can be high or low.

• The plant must produce wax that animals can eat.

This illustration provides information on four variations in the size and shape of antlers in a population of moose.

In order to grow antlers, a moose must expend a great amount of energy derived from food. In an environment where food resources are limited, it would be predicted that there would be an increase in which kind of antlers?

• b

• a

• d

• c

Given this fish population, where is the most likely the habitat for the dark colored fish will.

• In the middle of the stream where it is light and dark.

• At the top of the stream so they blend or camouflage

• The dark fish will follow the light fish so the light ones will get eaten first.

• The bottom so they are difficult to see.

Which antlers are advantageous for a moose? Why?

• The small antlers like c may allow the moose to run faster and escape predators.

• Predators may be deterred from attacking a moose with D antlers.

• Predators would not be deterred from C antlers.

• All of the above.

We have studied Peppered Moths this week. What is required for natural selection to occur?

• reproduce abundantly

• inheritable traits

• large population

• a, b, c

How do those requirements for natural selection to occur, apply to peppered moths?

• Moths were many , they reproduce quickly, no variation within the population.

• Moths held great variation, they reproduced slowly, they had a large population.

• None of the above

• All of the above.