Staar Category 3 Biology

A new predator of rabbits has been introduced within an ecosystem. This new predator runs faster than the native predators of rabbits.

Which statement describes what will most likely occur in the rabbit population due to the introduction of the predator?

• The rabbits will mutate their genes and express genes that increase their speed.

• Slower rabbits will develop stronger legs and pass this trait to their offspring.

• Rabbits will mate and produce offspring with a different species that has faster runners.

• Faster rabbits will survive and reproduce increasing the average speed of the rabbit population.

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A dichotomous key for identifying fish is shown.

• Glassy sweeper and squirrelfish

• Glasseye snapper and spotted eagle ray

• Spotted goatfish and bandtail puffer

• Peacock flounder and glassy sweeper

The aye-aye lemur is a mammal that feeds mostly on insect larvae that live inside trees. The aye-aye lemur has a specialized middle finger that is long and thin. The aye-aye lemur moves along a tree branch and taps the branch with its specialized finger. When the aye-aye lemur hears a difference in the echo, it will tear open the bark with its teeth until the insect tunnel is exposed. The aye-aye lemur then uses its specialized finger to reach the insect larvae and remove it.

• Limited availability of water

• Competing for mates

• Large numbers of natural predators

• Food sources that are hard to find

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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.

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This cladogram shows the evolutionary relationships among some mammals based on homologous structures.

• Hippopotamuses are more closely related to cows than to javelinas.

• Toothed whales are more closely related to mouse deer than to hippopotamuses.

• Javelinas and pigs are more closely related than baleen whales and toothed whales.

• Cows and mouse deer are more closely related than javelinas and pigs.

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