Question

Which of the following shows that fossils provide evidence of evolution? (1 point)
• Fossils can be used to determine the climate of the past.
• Fossils of all life forms are found evenly distributed throughout rock layers.
• The deeper a fossil is buried, the better preserved it will be.
• Fossils of extinct organisms resemble living organisms, but with some key differences.

A population of lizards lives on a volcanic island. Over several generations, the volcano erupts, covering half of the island in black ash. The lizards that originally had brown skin struggled to camouflage themselves on the black ash and were more likely to be preyed upon. However, some lizards had a rare genetic mutation for grey skin, which allowed them to blend in better with their new environment.
Based on the principles of natural selection, what is the most likely outcome for the lizard population in future generations?
(1 point)
• The volcano will eventually become inactive, making brown skin advantageous again.
• All lizards will eventually develop grey skin.
• The brown lizards will develop the ability to change their skin color.
• The population size will remain stable with both brown and grey lizards.

Which of the following best explains how resource availability can drive natural selection in a population? (1 point)
• If there are plenty of resources, then there is no need for evolutionary change.
• An increase in resources leads to an increase in competition, which reduces genetic diversity.
• Unlimited resources result in stronger natural selection processes.
• A decrease in resources creates situations where individuals with preferred traits can survive and reproduce more than those without preferred traits.

If a population of rabbits that feed on a specific type of berry bush for food were to suddenly decrease, how would that indirectly affect the predators that rely on the rabbits for food? (1 point)
• The predators will evolve to hunt different prey species.
• The predators will find new types of berries to eat.
• The predator population will likely decrease due to a shortage of food.
• The predator population will remain stable because they can find other prey.

Answer 1

1) Fossils provide evidence of evolution:
- Answer: "Fossils of extinct organisms resemble living organisms, but with some key differences."
- Why: Similarities with differences across time indicate descent with modification.

2) Lizards on ash-covered island:
- Answer: "All lizards will eventually develop grey skin." (interpreted as grey skin becoming much more common)
- Why: Natural selection favors grey individuals, so the grey allele frequency will increase over generations (possibly becoming predominant).

3) How resource availability drives natural selection:
- Answer: "A decrease in resources creates situations where individuals with preferred traits can survive and reproduce more than those without preferred traits."
- Why: Scarcity creates differential survival and reproduction based on advantageous traits.

4) Indirect effect on predators if rabbit numbers drop:
- Answer: "The predator population will likely decrease due to a shortage of food."
- Why: Fewer prey means less food, leading to lower predator survival and reproduction.