20.3 Quiz

Changes in global temperature and other​ (a)   conditions have effects on organisms and on the clades to which they belong. The emergence, growth, and extinction of a large clade, such as the dinosaurs, is an example of a​ (b)   pattern. This pattern includes​ (c)   extinction, which tends not to disturb ecosystems, as well as​ (d)   extinction, in which ecosystems change drastically.

• environmental
• macroevolutionary
• mass
• temporary
• permanent
• microevolutionary
• geological
• background

Evolution may occur at a slow, steady rate, which is called (a)   ; or there may be brief periods of rapid evolutionary change, which is called​ (b)   . A single species may give rise to a diverse set of species in the process of​ (c)   , or unrelated species may develop similar adaptations in a process of​ (d)   .

• gradualism
• punctuated equilibrium
• adaptive radiation
• convergent evolution
• coevolution

Darwin suggested that evolution occurred at a steady, relatively slow rate. Today, scientists cite fossil evidence to support which revision of Darwin's suggestion?

• Evolution occurs slowly in the ocean and rapidly on land.

• Evolution may sometimes occur very rapidly, in any clade and at any time.

• Evolution occurs slowly at the molecular level and rapidly at the organism level.

• Evolution occurs slowly in some clades and rapidly in other clades.

Henry reads the following claim: "After most dinosaurs went extinct, mammals evolved in a pattern of adaptive radiation." Which observation provides the strongest evidence in support of this claim?

• The wings of bats, which are flying mammals, have a different bone structure than the wings of birds.

• Today's mammals include numerous, diverse species that fill a wide variety of niches.

• Today's mammals include one species, humans, that live in a wide variety of habitats on land.

• Mammals that are used as livestock, such as sheep and cattle, were bred from wild ancestors.

The long, thin beak of the hummingbird fits inside the tube formed by the flower petals. For this reason, the hummingbird is able to sip nectar from the flower, while other animals cannot reach the nectar.

The evolution of the hummingbird beak and the tube-shaped flower petals is an example of which macroevolutionary pattern?

• convergent evolution, because the traits evolved separately from one another

• adaptive radiation, because both traits evolved from a common ancestor

• coevolution, because each trait evolved in response to the other trait

• punctuated equilibrium, because each trait evolved at the same rate

Katie is researching the evolution of dinosaurs, which thrived during the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, and the evolution of mammals, which thrived in the periods that followed. To support certain claims about her research topic, Katie cites the graph shown. Classify the following claim according to whether the graph provides evidence to support it.

A mass extinction affected the evolution of mammals.

• Supported

• Not Supported

Katie is researching the evolution of dinosaurs, which thrived during the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, and the evolution of mammals, which thrived in the periods that followed. To support certain claims about her research topic, Katie cites the graph shown. Classify the following claim according to whether the graph provides evidence to support it.

A mass extinction affected the evolution of dinosaurs

• Supported

• Not Supported

Katie is researching the evolution of dinosaurs, which thrived during the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, and the evolution of mammals, which thrived in the periods that followed. To support certain claims about her research topic, Katie cites the graph shown. Classify the following claim according to whether the graph provides evidence to support it.

Coevolution affected the evolution of mammals and dinosaurs.

• Supported

• Not Supported

Katie is researching the evolution of dinosaurs, which thrived during the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, and the evolution of mammals, which thrived in the periods that followed. To support certain claims about her research topic, Katie cites the graph shown. Classify the following claim according to whether the graph provides evidence to support it.

Background extinctions affected the evolution of both mammals and dinosaurs.

• Supported

• Not Supported

Katie is researching the evolution of dinosaurs, which thrived during the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, and the evolution of mammals, which thrived in the periods that followed. To support certain claims about her research topic, Katie cites the graph shown. Classify the following claim according to whether the graph provides evidence to support it.

Dinosaurs evolved by adaptive radiation at the end of the Cretaceous period.

• Supported

• Not Supported