Natural Selection Evolution

 Astyanax mexicanus, a type of freshwater fish found in caves and other underground habitats across Mexico and the southern part of the United States. Both the surface and cavefish belong to the same species, but unlike the surface fish, the cavefish has no eyes. 

How can the survival of the cavefish population be explained? 

• . The surface was too bright and predators were catching them, so they adapted to be transparent in color. 

• . Cavefish were too far away from sunlight, causing problems in their development and changing their appearance.

• Cavefish population has survived in caves without eyes because it is an adaptation to the environment. 

• A cavefish produced offspring after having lost its eyes in an injury and changed the population overtime.

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Change over time...

• Evolution

• Nucleotide 

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Which term refers to the process by which individuals that are better suited to the environment survive and reproduce therefore passing down their genes to their offspring? 

• Evolution 

• Variation 

• Adaptation

• Natural Selection 

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Which statement below best explains how evolution by natural selection influenced the variation demonstrated by the cat family - Felidae?

• Different traits evolved in each species in order to adapt to the environment where they

  live.

• Members of Felidae do not share common ancestors, so each species has its own unique

  traits.

• Cats have largely been unaffected by evolution because they are bred and influenced by

  humans.

• Different adaptations observed in Felidae are not significant enough to be influenced by

  natural selection

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Shell color is genetic in the European large banded snail. Scientists who study these snails found that snails with a lighter colored shells have a lower body temperature than those with a darker color. Currently, the habitat of the large banded snails is warming due to climate change. What impact will climate change most likely have on the population of the large banded snails?

• They will evolve into a new species without a protective shell. 

• Their shells will get darker so they can absorb more energy from the sun. 

• Their shells will get lighter, because their environment will be hotter. 

• They will go extinct as they are unable to adapt to their changing environment.

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In 1861 paleontologists announced that they had found a fossil with feathers, now known as, Archaeopteryx, which lived approximately 150 million years ago. When comparing Archaeopteryx to other small dinosaurs and modern-day birds, the paleontologists learned that Archaeopteryx had more in common with dinosaurs. The Archaeopteryx were small and had broad wings which likely gave them the ability to fly or glide. How can the Archaeopteryx fossils be used to support the theory of evolution?

• They give evidence to support the idea that organisms inherit the best traits from their parents.

• They show how organisms today share characteristics with fossilized species.

• They can demonstrate that animals from long ago are still alive today.

• They indicate that evolution is a theory because scientists do not completely understand the fossil record.

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Over a long period of time, the food supply for several birds on an isolated island has changed. The original supply of insects, small tender seeds, and vegetation has shrunk while the supply of tough, large, hard seeds has remained unchanged. Which statement below describes the species that was most likely successful after the change in their environment?

• A species that has not evolved before.

• A species that lays many eggs.

• A species with high genetic variation.

• A species with small beaks.

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Define natural selection.

• An inherited characteristic that increases chances of survival

• The process where organisms with traits well-suited to their environment survive and reproduce at a greater rate

• A growing population causes a scarcity of resources

• Differences in the DNA sequence

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Organisms with the most beneficial traits will survive. This is commonly known as

• the theory of evolution.

• variations.

• survival of the fittest.

• ecosystems.

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What is the advantage of having different shaped beaks?

• To look different from other species.

• To be able to eat the food readily available in the environment.

• To protect itself against predators.

• To protect itself against prey.

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