Evolution Of Populations Quiz

Match the definition / example with the appropriate vocabulary term.

Guppies belonging to the same population come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. (Match)

genetic drift

phenotypic variation

gene flow

speciation

genetic variation (or variance)

Phenotypic variation - the observable differences in traits ex (size, shape, color)

Two populations of guppies live in ponds that are not very far apart. Occasionally, flooding allows the fish from one of these ponds to mate with fish from the other population.

genetic drift

phenotypic variation

gene flow

speciation

genetic variation (or variance)

Gene flow - where individuals from one population move to another and reproduce.

Two populations of guppies evolve into two separate species in ponds that are too far apart for the fish to find each other.

genetic drift

phenotypic variation

gene flow

speciation

genetic variation (or variance)

Speciation - process by which one population splits and evolves into 2 seperate species.

Historical accidents can cause evolution. Examples of this phenomenon include the founder effect and the bottleneck effect.

genetic drift

phenotypic variation

gene flow

speciation

genetic variation (or variance)

Genetic drift - random change in allele frequencies due to chance events.

In most eukaryotes, this type of diversity is maintained by diploidy.

genetic drift

phenotypic variation

gene flow

speciation

genetic variation (or variance)

Diploidy means organisms have two copies of each gene (one from each parent).

Which of the following answer choices does NOT qualify asa a mechanism for evolution.

Genetic drift

gene low

natural selection

convergence

Convergence - NOT a mechanism of evolution. It is a pattern in which unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.

The founder effect and the bottleneck effect are both forms of adaptive evolution

FALSE - Founder effect and bottleneck effect are forms of GENETIC DRIFT, not adaptive evolution.

Genetic variation (or variance) in a natural population is the result of

environmental catastrophes

individual activities

random mutations of the DNA

changes in the environment.

Random mutations of DNA - Mutations create new genetic differences within a populaiton.

True or false ; Genetic drift is generally associated with an increase in genetic variation within a population.

FALSE - Genetic drift decreases genetic variation within a population since random events can eliminate alleles.

Which of the following evolutionary mechanisms increases the amount of genetic variation in a population?

mutation

stabilizing natural selection

genetic drift

directional natural selection

Mutation - Is the ONLY mechanism that creates new genetic variation by introducing new alleles into a population.

Heritable mutations in the genes of an individual arise due to

vigorous exercise.

artificial selection.

environmental change.

random chance.

Random chance - Heritable mutations occur randomly when changes happen in a organism’s DNA.

Most Swiss starlings produce four to five eggs in each clutch. Starlings producing fewer or more than this have reduced fitness. This is an example of

diversifying selection

sexual selection

directional selection

stabilizing selection

Stabilizing selection - favors the average / intermediate trait and select against extreme variations.

When a species lives in a constant environment for a long time, the "average type" of individual may have the best chance of surviving and producing the most offspring. What type of selection is occurring?

diversifying selection

directional selection

stabilizing selection

frequency dependent selection

Stabilizing selection - Stabilizing selection favors the average type of individual and selects against extreme traits.