Biology Unit 7 Evolution

The diagram shows light- and dark-colored beetles that live on a tree. Which result is most likely to occur to the beetle population due to predation over time?

• The number of light-colored beetles In the population will increase.

• There will be more dark-colored beetles than light-colored beetles.

• The number of light-colored beetles will decrease.

• The dark-colored beetles will move to a different type of tree.

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Adaptations that result from natural selection are expected to increase the fitness of an organism.

In terms of natural selection, which of the following best describes fitness?

• Being able to escape from predators

• Being among the strongest organisms in a population

• Being able to survive, find a mate, and produce offspring

• Being able to survive long enough to reach the adult stage

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The green frog (Lithobates clamitans clamitans) is found in many parts of the United States. The table contains some information about this frog. Why does the ability to lay 1,000 to 5,000 eggs increase the fitness of the species L. clamitans clamitans?

• It increases opportunities for offspring to compete for limited resources.

• It increases the probability that some offspring will survive long enough to reproduce.

• It increases the probability that moving water will promote gene flow from one population to another.

• It increases the chance of the recombination of alleles, leading to genetic drift in the population.

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The table shows the survival rate of two types of beetles in the same environment over a period of three years. Which statement about the beetles in this environment is best supported by the data?

• Green beetles are more fit for the environment than brown beetles are.

• Brown beetles undergo a greater number of unfavorable mutations than green beetles do.

• Green beetles have a greater gene frequency among their population than brown beetles have.

• Brown beetles have a shorter life cycle than green beetles have

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A harmless scarlet king snake and a venomous eastern coral snake have similar band patterns, as shown below. For the scarlet king snake, the adaptation of having a banding pattern like the eastern coral snake' is known as mimicry. The outcome of this adaptation in the scarlet king snake is to -

• make it easier for the scarlet king snake to attract prey

• make it easier for the scarlet king snake to interbreed with the other snake

• allow the scarlet king snake to blend in with its environment

• protect the scarlet king snake from predators

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The concept of gene flow is demonstrated when a cow is driven off from its herd, joins another herd, and reproduces. When the cow contributes to the gene pool of the new herd, which of these most likely Increases?

• Natural selection

• Genetic variation

• Environmental fitness

• Reproductive mutations

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

• The method lengthens the life cycle of each of these plants.

• The method reduces the chance that herbivores will consume the seeds.

• The method ensures that offspring will be dispersed and reduces competition for resources.

• The method reduces the plants' need for water and other nutrients.

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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.

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Common baboons live on the savanna in breeding groups called troops. While females tend to stay with the troop, younger or less dominant males may leave to join a neighboring troop.

Which of these is a likely outcome of movement by young males?

• Relative genotypic frequencies reach a constant state.

• Allele frequencies suddenly change.

• Gene flow occurs between populations.

• Intermediate phenotypes increase in the species.

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Lord Howe Island is a volcanic island in the Tasman Sea that is about 11 km long and 2.8 km wide. The island has two species of palm trees, Howea forsteriana and the more abundant Howea belmoreana. The two species do not interbreed even when they grow very close to each other. Which evolutionary process fails to occur?

• Genetic drift of Howea forsteriana

• Natural selection of adaptive traits in both species

• Gene flow between the two species

• Mutations in Howea belmoreana