Staar Biology Taxonomy

Two scientists want to compare their research of fireflies. Which information must the two scientists provide to each other to determine if they studied the same type if fireflies?

• Size of the firefly populations

• Type of habitat in which the fire flies live

• Color of light produced by te fireflies

• Species name of the fire flies studied

Students examine images of a certain species of bat commonly found in Texas. Using the bat dichotomous Key, they conclude that the bat species is a Mexican free-tailed bat due to its large, round ears.

Based on the dichotomous key, in addition to the shape of the bat's ears, which other set of features should the students look for to confirm the identity of the bat?

• Solitary with a wingspan greater than 35cm

• Solitary with a wingspan less than 35cm

• Colonial with a wingspan greated than 35cm

• Colonial with a wingspan less than 35cm

The taxonomic classifications of four species of amphibians are shown.

Based on the information provided, which two species are most closely related?

• northern cricket frog and bull frog

• northern leopard frog and green treefrog

• northern cricket frog and green treefrog

• northern leopard frog and bullfrog

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A researcher determines an organism to be eukaryotic, unicellular and autotrophic. In which taxonomic group should this organism be classified?

• bacteria

• protista

• archaea

• animalia

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The gray squirrel, Eastern fox squirrel, and red squirrel are all different species of squirrels. Why is having a scientific name for each species of an organism important?

• To prevent existing named organisms from having their names changed as they become extinct

• To keep the classification system from being altered as new organisms are discovered

• To allow organisms to be placed in many classification levels at the same time

• To standardize the naming and organization of organisms to avoid confusion

Organisms are classified today using the Linnaean system, and the following table shows the taxonomic classification of two marine organisms living along the Pacific Coast.

Taxonomic classification is important to marine biologists because it provides a way to -

• prove that marine evolution occurs

• discover and name every marine organism on Earth

• designate Latin as the universal language of marine biology

• identify marine organisms and find evolutionary relationships between them

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A dichotomous key for identifying fish is shown.

Based on this key, which two fish have eyes located on either side of their head and are not spotted?

• Glassy sweeper and squirrelfish

• Glasseye snapper and spotted eagle ray

• Spotted goatfish and bandtail puffer

• Peacock flounder and glassy sweeper

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Many tree frog populations are threatened due to habitat loss. In an effort to promote conservation, tree frogs may be bred in captivity. A zoo acquired male and female tree frogs from two different populations. In the zoo, the tree frogs were able to successfully mate within their own population, but breeding attempts between the two populations were unsuccessful.

Based on this information, which statement correctly describes the relationship between the two populations of tree frogs.

• They are in the same species but different kingdoms.

• They are in the same class but different phyla.

• They are in the same family but different orders.

• They are in the same genus but different species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A team of students encounters an unknown organism in a field while conducting a biodiversity study. Some students think the organism is a plant, while others think it is a fungus.

Which question should the students investigate to classify the organism correctly?

• Is there a cell wall around the cells of the organism?

• Does the organism perform photosynthesis?

• Is there nervous tissue present in the organism?

• Does the organism reproduce sexually?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

Which list correctly identifies characteristics that protists share with animals?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2