Evolution in Action Video and Homework Questions
Question 1 2 pts
Based on what you saw in the film, identify the adaptive trait that is most important to survival under the environmental conditions presented by the drought beak
0 beak depth 0 food source 0 body size 0 wing span
Question 2 2 pts
A reason for the presence or absence of a relationship between beak depth and wing length in this population would be?
0 Large beaks are likely associated with larger birds in general; therefore, beak depth and wing length for the drought-surviving birds are not related.
0 Large beaks are likely associated with smaller birds in general; therefore, beak depth and wing length for the drought-surviving birds are not related.
0 Small beaks are likely associated with larger birds in general; therefore, beak depth and wing length for the drought-surviving birds are related.
0 Large beaks are likely associated with larger birds in general; therefore, beak depth and wing length for the drought-surviving birds are related.
Question 3 1 pts
Based on your observations regarding beak depth and wing length, predict what might happen to body mass in the medium ground finch population over a few generations if small, soft seeds became abundant again after the drought ended in 1978.
0 If small, soft seeds become abundant again on Daphne Major, body mass will likely decrease over a few generations
0 If small, soft seeds become abundant again on Daphne Major, body mass will likely increase over a few generations
0 If small, soft seeds become abundant again on Daphne Major, body mass will likely not change
Question 4 1 pts
Evolution by means of natural selection can only occur if heritable traits vary among individuals in a population.
0 True
0 False
Question 5 1 pts
Natural selection involves the differential survival and reproduction of individuals with different heritable traits
0 True
0 False
Question 6 1 pts
Evolution occurs when inherited traits in a population change over successive generations.
0 True
0 False
Question 7 1 pts
Larger beaks are causing birds to have longer wings.
0 True
0 False
Question 8 1 pts
Beak depth and wing length for the drought-surviving birds are not related.
0 True
0 False
Question 9 1 pts
Which is the most likely explanation for the presence of 13 different finch species on the Galapagos Islands today?
0 Many years ago, several different species of birds migrated to the islands and the 13 finch species that currently live there are the only species that survived
0 A single bird species migrated to one island at around the time of Charles Darwin’s voyage to the Galapagos and then migrated to all 13 islands. 0 Each of the 13 species has migrated to the islands at different times over the years. 0 Many years ago, a small population of a single bird species migrated to the islands and evolved into the 13 species that live on the islands today.
Question 10 1 pts
Different finch species have beaks of different shapes and sizes. These different beak structures are evidence of
0 individual birds changing their beak characteristics so that they could feed efficiently. 0 different finch populations being evolutionarily related. 0 different finch species with different beak structures coming to the Galapagos Islands from the mainland. 0 different finch species adapting to different environments over many generations.
Question 11 1 pts
Examine the phylogenetic tree of the 13 finch species below. Which of the following statements is a correct interpretation of the phylogenetic tree in the illustration?
0 All the Galapagos finches are more closely related to one another than they are to mainland finch species
0 The warbler finch is the common ancestor to all the finch species that exist today in the Galapagos Islands.
0 The 13 finch species evolved in sequence; the warbler finch is the oldest species and the small ground finch is the most recent species to evolve.
0 The sharp-beaked ground finch is more closely related to the small tree finch than either species is to the cactus finch.
D Question 12 1 pts
D
Which experimental data from the film provide the best evidence that the cactus finch and the medium ground finch on Daphne Major are distinct species?
0 Cactus finch and medium ground finch males attempted to breed only with females of their own species. 0 The cactus finch and medium ground finch feed on different types of food. 0 Medium ground finch and cactus finch females have different markings and feather color. 0 Many more medium ground finches than cactus finches died in response to the drought.
Question 13 1 pts
Which of the five statements below describe(s) geographically isolated populations? Select the appropriate answer. i. The two populations live on different islands. ii. One population breeds in late spring and the other population breeds in late
summer.
iii. One population eats mostly small, soft seeds and the other population eats mostly large, hard seeds.
iv. The males of one population have different mating calls than the males of the other population.
v. The females of the two populations look the same.
0 statement iv only 0 statements ii, iii, and v only 0 statement i only 0 statements i and in only
D Question 14 1 pts
Which of the five observations below provide(s) evidence that two populations are likely experiencing reproductive isolation and that there is little if any genetic exchange between them? Select the appropriate answer.
i. The two populations live on different islands.
ii. One population breeds in late spring and the other population breeds in late
summer.
iii. One population eats mostly small, soft seeds and the other population eats mostly large, hard seeds.
iv. The males of one population sing different songs than the males of the other population.
v. The females of the two populations look the same.
0 statements ii and in only 0 statement i only 0 statements iii and v only 0 statements i, ii, and iv only
Question 15 1 pts
How did the Grants test their hypothesis that differences in birds’ songs can keep finches from breeding with members of other species?
0 They played the song of the medium ground finch to medium ground finch males through a loudspeaker to see if they would respond; they then played the song of the cactus finch to cactus finch males to see if they would respond.
0 They played the songs of medium ground finches and cactus finches through a loudspeaker at different times, when individuals from both species were present. to see which species responded to each song.
0 They watched which birds were mating with each other and listened for the songs the birds were singing.
0 They recorded birds singing on the island of Daphne Major for an entire breeding season to see which type of song was used more often by each species.
Question 16 1 pts
Explain the evidence presented in the film for your answer in the previous question.
0 The type of song used more often during the breeding season was also the song sung by the most abundant species.
0 Males only came to the loudspeaker when the song of their own species was being played.
0 During mating, birds sang the song of their own species.
Question 17 1 pts
Figure 1 shows the beak depths of 200 medium ground finches on Daphne Major before a severe drought began on the island. What is the most common beak depth of the finches living on Daphne Major in 1976?
