Biology Ev17 Quiz Biogeography

Which of these is the best definition of biogeography?

• The study of how and why plants and animals live where they do.

• The study of how and why plants affect each other and the environment.

• The study of how and why plants evolve to compensate for changes in habitats.

• None of these are definitions of biogeography.

All of today’s camels are descended from the same camel ancestors. These ancestors lived in ___________________.

• Asia

• Africa

• South America

• North America

The biogeography of ______________ yields some of the best evidence for evolution.

• rainforests

• islands

• oceans

• deserts

Which of these are true of the biogeography of camels?

• Camels crossed a land bridge to East Asia during the last ice age.

• Camels crossed the Isthmus of Panama and went to South America.

• Once camels reached these different places, they evolved independently.

• Camels crossed the Suez and went into Sub Saharan Africa.

• Camels traveled from West Asia into southern Europe.

Which of these is the best is the best definition of adaptive radiation?

• The process by which a species changes to better fill an available niche.

• The process by which a single species evolves into many new species to fill available niches.

• The process by which a species becomes better suited for a niche than another forcing it to specialize or go extinct.

• none of these are definitions of adaptive radiation.

In the 1970s, biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant went to the Galápagos Islands. What did they observe?

• They were able to watch adaptive radiation occur.

• They proved biogeography occurred among finches on the Galapogoislands.

• They were able to observe evolution by natural selection actually taking place.

• They were able to start evolution in a group of finches

While the Grants were on the Galápagos, a drought occurred. As a result, fewer seeds were available for finches to eat. What happened to the beaks of the finches?

• Beaks became larger because birds with smaller beaks couldn't break the tougher seeds and died.

• Beaks became smaller because birds with larger beaks couldn't grab the tiny seeds efficiently and died.

• Beaks stayed roughly the same over a two year time.

• Beaks became more curved and specialized to collect seeds. Birds with straighter beaks dies out.

The first camels lived about ______ million years ago.

• 1

• 2

• 6

• 10

This picture shows the various tortoise species of the Galapagos Islands. Notice that the shells of teh tortoises differ from island to island. All these species evolved from a single species of tortoise. Which statement below is most true of these tortoises.

• This picture shows an example of Galapagos tortoise biogeography.

• This picture shows an example of Galapagos tortoise adaptive radiation.

• This picture shows both biogeography and the adaptive radiation of the Galapagos tortoise.

• This picture shows neither the biogeography or the adaptive radiation of the Galapagos tortoise.

When looking at camel biogeography it is clear that they evolved adaptations that suited them for the particular environment where they lived. Through natural selection, descendants of the original camel ancestors evolved the diversity they have today.

• true

• false