Evolution and Ecology Review

A change in a species over time and the process by which evolution occurs is

• Population

• Evolution

• Speciation

• Variation

 A structure that has no apparent function; evidence of evolution

• Analogous structure

• Non-functional feature
• homologous structure

• Vestigial structure

These limbs provide evidence of common ancestry because they —

• have the same basic structure

• perform the same function

• are the same size

• are parts of mammals

A symbiotic relationship where one organism is benefits while the other is unaffected

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

A change in allele frequencies due to chance occurrences

• Gene flow

• Mutation

• Genetic drift

• Natural selection

Answer explanation

Genetic drift is a change in allele frequencies due to chance occurrences, such as random sampling effects in small populations.

 theory that states that speciation occurs suddenly and rapidly followed by 

     long periods of little evolutionary change

• Gene flow

• Gradualism
• Adaptive radiation
• Punctuated equilibrium

Which of the following is NOT an example of natural selection? 

• People selectively breeding hamsters.

• Insect populations developing resistance to certain pesticides.

• Bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

• Male birds of certain species developing colorful feathers to attract female mates.

Answer explanation

People selectively breeding hamsters is not an example of natural selection because it involves human intervention and not the natural process of adaptation and survival of the fittest.

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

• The maximum number of organisms in a species that an environment can support is?

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.