WorksheetsEvolution
Total questions: 12
Worksheet time: 6mins
Researcher analyzed a mitochondrial gene of different bat species to determine relatedness. A cladogram of their results is shown.
Based on the cladogram, which set of bat species is the least related?
Ptenochirus minor and megaerops nipnanae
Dyacopterus spadiceus and Otopteropus cartilagonodus
Haplonycteris fischeri and Ptenochirus jagori
Cynopterus sphinx and Chironax melanocephalus
This cladogram shows the evolutionary relationships among some mammals based on homologous structures.
Which statement is supported by this cladogram?
Hippopotamuses are more closely related to cows than 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.
When multiple transitional fossils are found in many rock layers, they provide evidence of
seasonal variation in the diet of a species
gradual changes of a species over time
DNA functioning as the genetic material of organisms
an unchanging environment
The diagram shows data on the evolution of horses.
The data in the diagram is evidence that
a new species of horse suddenly appeared
horses slowly developed over time
horses have similar stages of rapid embryological development
horses have a common ancestry with other hooved animals.
Farmers spray pesticides on their plants to protect the plants from being eaten by insects. Some individual insects have a genetic mutation that makes them resistant to the toxins in the pesticides.
Which statement best describes how only a few resistant individuals resulted in the pesticide becoming ineffective?
the resistant insects change the toxin on the plants. making it save for others.
the resistant insects grow larger and eat less of the plants.
the resistant insects eat the contaminated surface and leave the rest of the others
the resistant insects are able to survive to reproduce and create a population that is also resistant.
Male guppies found in areas without predators are more colorful than the ones found in locations with large predator populations. A population of adult guppies originating from an area with a large number of predators is transferred to a nearby area with few predators.
Which of these is most likely to happen over a few generations?
The mortality rate of the guppies will increase.
Offspring will stop competing for resources.
There will be an increase in mutations in the offspring.
There will be an increase in the number of colorful guppies.
The giant octopus lays 20,000 to 100,000 fertilized eggs. After hatching, most octopuses become prey to larger marine organisms. and less than 5% will reach adulthood to reproduce.
One benefit of the giant octopus laying many eggs is to -
increase the average body size for surviving individuals to avoid predation
decrease competition between different octopus species to maintain resources in the population
increase the change that more individuals will survive to maintain the population
decrease the likelihood of offspring being consumed by predators
White-tailed deer are seasonal breeders. Female white-tailed deer begin their reproductive cycle in the fall. Rising testosterone levels in male white-tailed deer cause them to start their breeding season around the same time. offspring are born the following spring and summer.
What is the most likely explanation for white-tailed deer having a seasonal breeding cycle instead of a monthly breeding cycle like many domesticated animals?
male and female deer come into contact with each other only in the fall
large predators are not found in deer habitats during the spring and summer months.
Giving birth only in the spring and summer ensures that offspring are born when food is most available.
Deer give birth in the spring and summer in order to avoid being pregnant during the hot summer months.
The Mexican long-nosed bat roosts in Big Ben National Park in West Texas. The bat feeds on nectar and pollen and hovers while it feeds. Additionally, its tongue extends up to eight centimeters.
The feathers of the Mexican long-nosed bats are evidence of natural selection because those features are adaptations that -
lead to an increase in predation by other species of animals
show that most DNA mutations are necessary and advantageous but do not increase survival or reproductive success
help individuals outcompete other individuals for food resources to increase survival and reproductive success
are the result of intentional breeding
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 rate to their offspring.
rabbits will mate and produce offspring with a different species that have faster runners
faster rabbits will survive and reproduce increasing the average speed of the rabbit
Conservation biologists studying cheetah populations have determined that the lack of genetic diversity among the cheetahs is due to genetic drift.
Which statement explains the most likely consequence of having a low genetic diversity in the cheetah population?
The changes of a mutation occuring in the cheetah population are decreased, increasing the cheetah survival rate.
The gene pool remains in equilibrium and future generations of cheetah offspring are stronger and better adapted to their environments.
The cheetah population becomes less likely to survive an outbreak of a disease or environmental changes, increasing the chance of species extinction.
Genetic variability is maintained in older cheetah populations that have survived and endured environmental stressors.
Common baboons live on the savanna in breeding groups called troops. While females tend to stay with the troop, younger or less dominant males may leave to join a neighboring troop. Which of these is a likely outcome of movement by young males?
Gene flow occurs between populations.
Allele frequencies suddenly change.
Relative genotypic frequencies reach a constant state.
Intermediate phenotypes increase in the species.
