1

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Which of the following is the definition for speciation?

A

an inherited or learned trait that increases an organism’s chance of survival in its environment

B

the evolutionary process through which new species emerge

C

a process by which organisms well suited to their environment tend to pass their traits onto offspring

D

a process by which one of the extreme variations of a trait is favored

2

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Which type of selection occurs when a population experiences a shift in diversity toward the larger organisms?

A

stabilizing selection

B

directional selection

C

disruptive selection

D

adaptive selection

3

Stick insects, also called walking sticks, are typically found in tropical and subtropical forests and grasslands. The insects are able to camouflage themselves by living among twigs in their environment.What is this an example of?

A

adaptation

B

biodiversity

C

isolation

D

variation

4

Which graph represents selection that may lead to reduced variation in a population?

A

A graph has trait value on the horizontal axis and population of individuals on the vertical axis. The original population and population after selection have similar curves, but the original population peaks before the population after selection.

B

A graph has trait value on the horizontal axis and population of individuals on the vertical axis. The population after selection increases, decreases, increases, and then decreases again. The original population increases at the point that the original population drops.

C

A graph has trait value on the horizontal axis and population of individuals on the vertical axis. The original population peaks at the same time as the population after selection but the population after selection peaks higher and at a more rapid speed.

D

A graph has trait value on the horizontal axis and proportion of individuals on the vertical axis. The original population and population after selection have similar curves but the original population is slightly higher at all points.

5

Your teacher describes a population of fish that live in a coral reef. Some fish are dark orange (the same color as the coral). Some fish are nearly white. Most of the fish exhibit a color between dark orange and nearly white. Human activity has led to the bleaching of the coral reefs, making them very pale in color. Over time, the population of fish will be affected. Which graph represents the type of selection that you expect to occur?

A

A graph has trait value on the horizontal axis and population of individuals on the vertical axis. The original population and population after selection have similar curves, but the original population peaks before the population after selection.

B

A graph has trait value on the horizontal axis and population of individuals on the vertical axis. The population after selection increases, decreases, increases, and then decreases again. The original population increases at the point that the original population drops.

C

A graph has trait value on the horizontal axis and population of individuals on the vertical axis. The original population peaks at the same time as the population after selection but the population after selection peaks higher and at a more rapid speed.

D

A graph has trait value on the horizontal axis and proportion of individuals on the vertical axis. The original population and population after selection have similar curves but the original population is slightly higher at all points.

6

A population of squirrels lived together in a forest. An event occurred that caused the population to diverge into two different species over a long period of time. Which of the following is most likely the event that occurred?

A

There was an increase in the predators in the forest.

B

A natural disaster occurred that separated squirrels.

C

The winters were unusually cold in the forest.

D

A disease affected the squirrel population in the forest.

7

A scientist wrote a paper titled “Directional Selection in Action” after observing a population of mice for 15 years. The mice typically preferred to eat berries, although a few would also eat insects. After a drought in year 3, the scientist observed that more mice were eating insects. By year 10, most of the mice in the population ate insects in addition to berries. Which best describes her article?

A

Her title is accurate because two opposite extremes are favored.

B

Her title is accurate because one extreme is favored.

C

She should change her title because she is observing stabilizing selection.

D

She should change her title because she is observing disruptive selection.

8

A population contains short plants and tall plants. The short plants are not able to compete with tall plants for sunlight. The tall plants, however, are more susceptible to wind damage. Which type of selection will this population of plants most likely experience?

A

directional selection

B

disruptive selection

C

species selection

D

stabilizing selection

9

Which is the best definition of directional selection?

A

a process by which two species can no longer reproduce

B

a process by which one of the extreme variations of a trait is favored

C

a process by which both extreme variations of a trait are favored

D

a process by which average individuals in a population are favored

10

Which of the following can result in a population looking more similar over time and can be described as selection against both extremes of a trait?

A

directional selection

B

stabilizing selection

C

disruptive selection

D

species selection

Factors Affecting Biological Diversity Answers

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