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Mutations are important because they bring about

• death of the organism in which they develop
• genetic variation needed for a population to evolve
• benefits for the individual, not for the population
• Hardey-Weinberg equilibrium within a population

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White-tailed ptarmigans lose their brown feathers during winter and grow white feathers. If global climate change leads to the elimination of snow in the habitat of white-tailed ptarmigans, which adaptation is most likely to occur over many generations?

• Birds with white feathers in areas without winter snow will be easier for predators to find. Over time this could lead to white-tailed ptarmigans that have brown feathers throughout the year.
• Birds with brown feathers in areas without snow will be easier for predators to find. Over time this could lead to white-tailed ptarmigans that have white feathers throughout the year.
• Birds with white feathers will be easier to see on the ground in the summer. Over time this could lead to white-tailed ptarmigans that have white feathers throughout the year.
• Birds with brown feathers will be easier to see on the ground in the winter. Over time this could lead to white-tailed ptarmigans that have brown feathers throughout the year.

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What is Natural Selection?

• The process were only plants better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

• The process were only humans better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

• The process were individuals better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

• The process were organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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The same mutation could be advantageous in some environments but deleterious in others.

• True

• False

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The appearance of dark-colored volcanic rock caused the mutation for black fur to appear in the rock pocket mouse population.

• True

• False

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Genetic differences between organisms of the same species is referred to as ______________

• Variation

• Adaptation

• Behavior

• Environment

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Hummingbirds can have different beak lengths.

They use their beaks to reach to the nectar (their food) at the bottom of flowers. Hummingbirds with longer beaks can get food from long flowers. Hummingbirds with shorter beaks cannot reach the nectar in long flowers. If a hummingbird can’t easily reach its food, it will die.

The diagrams below show three possible hummingbird populations.

If their environment changes to have only long flowers, which of the following hummingbird populations will most likely survive?

• Only population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation.

• All the populations will survive because the hummingbirds will change the length of their beaks if they need to.

• Populations 1 and 2 will survive.

• Populations 1 and 2 will survive.

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Northern foxes can have different fur colors.

The foxes hunt squirrels for food. Foxes that have fur the same color as their environment are better at getting close to squirrels and catching them.

The diagrams below show three possible fox populations.

If their environment changes to have only brown dirt, which of the following fox populations will most likely survive?

• Populations 1 and 2 will most likely survive.

• Populations 2 and 3 will most likely survive.

• Only Population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation.

• All the populations will survive because the foxes will change the color of their fur if they need to.

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Look at the picture. What would be an appropriate caption to explain evolution by natural selection?

• Genetic Variation

• Adaptation

• Natural Selection

• Traits are inherited

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Which is necessary for speciation to occur?

• adaptation
• mass extinction
• isolation
• acquired traits

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