Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the main misconception about evolutionary change in organisms?

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary change occurs in populations over generations, not in individual organisms.

Question 2

A population of ground squirrels experiences a sudden earthquake that kills 98% of the population. The survivors have, on average, broader stripes than the original population. If stripe width is genetically determined, what evolutionary process has occurred?

Accepted Answer

A genetic bottleneck

Question 3

Which evolutionary mechanism is the only one that introduces new alleles into a population?

Accepted Answer

Mutation

Question 4

In a population of birds, 62 individuals were studied and 14 were found to be homozygous recessive (ee) for a muscle enzyme. Assuming Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, what is the expected frequency of the dominant allele $$E$$?

$$	ext{Let } q^2$ = \frac{14}{62}$$

$$	ext{Then } q = \sqrt{q^2$}$$

$$	ext{and } p = 1 - q$$

Accepted Answer

$$0.63$$

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the effect of gene flow between two populations?

Accepted Answer

It causes allele frequencies in the two populations to become more similar.

Question 6

A researcher observes that water snakes with larger lungs can stay underwater longer and avoid predators, but if lungs are too large, the snakes develop respiratory diseases and die before reproducing. What type of selection is most likely acting on lung size in this population?

Accepted Answer

Stabilizing selection

Question 7

Which of the following is a postzygotic barrier to reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Reduced hybrid fertility

Question 8

A population of ants is split into several isolated groups after a flood caused by damming a river. The ants cannot swim between the new islands. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Isolation by vicariance

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a key concept of genetic drift?

Accepted Answer

It always increases genetic variation.

Question 10

Which species concept relies primarily on reproductive isolation to define species?

Accepted Answer

Biological species concept

Question 11

If a new species of bird forms because a small group leaves and establishes itself in a new location, this is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Founder effect

Question 12

Which of the following is the underlying source of random variation for reproductive isolation?

Accepted Answer

Mutation

Question 13

A researcher finds that two species of monkey flowers are pollinated by different animals (bees and moths), but hybrids can be produced in the greenhouse, although they are sterile. What is the best explanation for the reproductive barrier?

Accepted Answer

Reduced hybrid fertility

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the effect of a small founding population on genetic drift?

Accepted Answer

An allele may disappear because genetic drift has a strong effect.

Question 15

Which of the following is a real-world example of the morphospecies concept leading to misidentification?

Accepted Answer

Cryptic species are identified as one species due to similar appearance.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a source of evidence used to construct phylogenies?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral isolation

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the result of gene flow between captive-bred and wild trout populations, as shown in fitness studies?

Accepted Answer

Gene flow decreases the fitness of wild populations.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of intrasexual selection?

Accepted Answer

Male elephant seals fighting for access to females.

Question 19

Which of the following equations represents the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for allele and genotype frequencies?

Accepted Answer

$$p^2 + 2pq$$ + $$q^2 = 1$

Question 20

Which of the following is the best example of a phylogenetic species concept in practice?

Accepted Answer

Identifying species based on DNA sequence differences and evolutionary history.

Evolutionary Mechanisms and Speciation: Study Notes for General Biology

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