Populations of a European salamander, Proteus anguinus, live in underground caves that have a limited food supply. One of the salamander’s adaptations is the ability to significantly reduce its rate of metabolism when food is scarce. Which of the following statements best describes how the process of natural selection led to this adaptation?

Question

(1 point)
Responses

Salamanders with the ability to slow their metabolism grew more slowly than other salamanders.
Salamanders with the ability to slow their metabolism grew more slowly than other salamanders.

Salamanders with the ability to slow their metabolism underwent more rapid mutation than other salamanders.
Salamanders with the ability to slow their metabolism underwent more rapid mutation than other salamanders.

Salamanders with the ability to slow their metabolism were more likely to survive and reproduce than other salamanders.
Salamanders with the ability to slow their metabolism were more likely to survive and reproduce than other salamanders.

Salamanders with the ability to slow their metabolism were more likely to emigrate than other salamanders.

Answer 1

The statement that best describes how the process of natural selection led to the adaptation of the European salamander, Proteus anguinus, is:

"Salamanders with the ability to slow their metabolism were more likely to survive and reproduce than other salamanders."

This statement effectively captures the essence of natural selection, where individuals with traits that confer a survival advantage (in this case, the ability to slow metabolism in a resource-scarce environment) are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on those advantageous traits to the next generation.

Answer 2

Spines and thorns both offer protection from herbivores and they look similar but not all plants with spines or thorns have descended from a recent common ancestor.

Modified stems are called thorns and modified leaves are called spines.

Which of the following statements best describes how this information provides evidence for evolution?

(1 point)
Responses

Demonstrates that herbivores are the strongest selection on organisms.
Demonstrates that herbivores are the strongest selection on organisms.

Demonstrates a variety of structures can be ineffective in protecting an organism from herbivores.
Demonstrates a variety of structures can be ineffective in protecting an organism from herbivores.

Demonstrates environmental pressures can cause organisms that are not related to change in similar ways.
Demonstrates environmental pressures can cause organisms that are not related to change in similar ways.

Demonstrates different organisms sometimes look alike.

Answer 3

The statement that best describes how this information provides evidence for evolution is:

"Demonstrates environmental pressures can cause organisms that are not related to change in similar ways."

This statement reflects the concept of convergent evolution, where different species develop similar adaptations (such as spines and thorns for protection) in response to similar environmental pressures (like predation from herbivores), even though they do not share a recent common ancestor.

Answer 4

In certain parts of the world such as Asia, land development and human population growth have fragmented habitats such as forest.

This fragmentation caused tigers to become geographically isolated in small populations, these tigers continually mate within the same small population of tigers.

Which of the following statement will show the most likely impact that this isolation will have on the populations of tiger?

(1 point)
Responses

To maximize the breeding success, the tigers in each population will mate with closely related species.
To maximize the breeding success, the tigers in each population will mate with closely related species.

Adaptation of each tiger population to its present environment will occur rapidly.
Adaptation of each tiger population to its present environment will occur rapidly.

The population will increase because the tigers in each population will breed more often.
The population will increase because the tigers in each population will breed more often.

Survival is threatened because there will be a decrease in genetic diversity of each tiger population.

Answer 5

The statement that shows the most likely impact that geographic isolation will have on the populations of tigers is:

"Survival is threatened because there will be a decrease in genetic diversity of each tiger population."

Geographic isolation can lead to inbreeding, which reduces genetic diversity. Low genetic diversity can make populations more vulnerable to disease, reduce their adaptability to environmental changes, and increase the likelihood of genetic problems, ultimately threatening their survival.

Answer 6

Which of the following would most likely NOT lead to natural selection?(1 point)
Responses

birds with longer beaks get more food
birds with longer beaks get more food

a monkey finds an easy source of food
a monkey finds an easy source of food

darker tigers are selected as mates more often
darker tigers are selected as mates more often

longer whales mate more successfully

Answer 7

The option that would most likely NOT lead to natural selection is:

"a monkey finds an easy source of food."

Finding an easy source of food does not inherently involve a selection pressure related to survival or reproduction based on specific traits. The other options describe scenarios where certain traits (longer beaks in birds, coloration in tigers, and size in whales) confer advantages in obtaining resources or mating success, which are key factors in the process of natural selection.

Answer 8

The brown anole (Anolis sagrei) is a type of lizard that is native to islands in the Caribbean Sea. These lizards can live in a variety of habitats. Ground-dwelling populations of brown anoles live on lower parts of tree trunks and on the ground. These populations have long legs that help with jumping. Other anole lizard populations live higher up on tree trunks. These populations have short legs that help with perching.

Curly-tailed lizards (Leiocephalus carinatus) are a predator of the brown anole. A group of researchers introduced these predatory lizards into the habitat of certain ground-dwelling brown anoles. To avoid these predators, many individuals from the ground-dwelling populations of brown anoles began to move higher into trees.

Based on the information above, which of the following is the best prediction for what will happen over time to the populations of ground-dwelling brown anoles in areas where curly-tailed lizards were introduced?

(1 point)
Responses

Over many generations, the brown anole populations will likely develop shorter legs as they adapt to living higher in trees.
Over many generations, the brown anole populations will likely develop shorter legs as they adapt to living higher in trees.

Because of their selective advantage, brown anoles that remain on the ground will likely produce more offspring in each generation than brown anoles that move higher in trees.
Because of their selective advantage, brown anoles that remain on the ground will likely produce more offspring in each generation than brown anoles that move higher in trees.

Within two or three generations, the brown anoles will likely become extinct due to predation by curly-tailed lizards.
Within two or three generations, the brown anoles will likely become extinct due to predation by curly-tailed lizards.

The brown anole populations will likely develop longer legs over many generations as they adapt to jumping higher up in trees.

Answer 9

The best prediction for what will happen over time to the populations of ground-dwelling brown anoles in areas where curly-tailed lizards were introduced is:

"Over many generations, the brown anole populations will likely develop shorter legs as they adapt to living higher in trees."

This prediction aligns with the principles of natural selection. As the ground-dwelling brown anoles move higher into trees to avoid predators, individuals with shorter legs may have a survival advantage in that specific habitat, leading to the gradual adaptation of shorter legs in the population over generations.

Answer 10

A species of ant, Odontomachus bauri, has a trap jaw that shuts quickly.

This jaw system evolved from basic mouth parts that all ants have, but the joint is a different shape, jaw is longer, and there are larger muscles.

Which of the following statements best explains why this trap-jaw trait evolved?



(1 point)
Responses

The ants’ chances of survival and reproduction is increased by the trap jaw.
The ants’ chances of survival and reproduction is increased by the trap jaw.

The ants’ only way of species recognition is the trap jaw.
The ants’ only way of species recognition is the trap jaw.

The ants’ body mass is increased by the trap jaw increases.
The ants’ body mass is increased by the trap jaw increases.

The ant can only eat one kind of food with the trap jaw.

Answer 11

The statement that best explains why the trap-jaw trait evolved in the ant species Odontomachus bauri is:

"The ants’ chances of survival and reproduction is increased by the trap jaw."

This explanation is aligned with the principles of natural selection, as the trap-jaw likely provides a significant advantage in capturing prey or defending against predators, thereby increasing the chances of survival and reproduction for those individuals possessing this trait.