Question 1

Which of the following is an example of a prezygotic reproductive barrier?

Accepted Answer

Two species of frogs mate at different times of the year and do not interbreed.

Question 2

A population of fish is separated by a newly formed river, and over time, the two groups evolve into distinct species. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Allopatric speciation

Question 3

Which of the following best describes mechanical isolation as a prezygotic barrier?

Accepted Answer

Mating is attempted, but morphological differences prevent its successful completion.

Question 4

A plant species undergoes a cell division error resulting in a tetraploid individual (4n) that cannot mate with the original diploid population (2n). This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Autopolyploidy

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

Sea urchins release their gametes into the water, but fertilization only occurs if specific proteins on the gametes match. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Gametic isolation

Question 7

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates habitat differentiation leading to sympatric speciation?

Accepted Answer

Apple maggot flies begin to lay eggs on apples instead of hawthorns, leading to reproductive isolation.

Question 8

A hybrid offspring of two rice species is fertile, but its F2 generation is weak and sterile. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Hybrid breakdown

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a condition required for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Question 10

Which process can result in the rapid formation of a new plant species due to hybridization and chromosome doubling?

Accepted Answer

Allopolyploidy

Question 11

In Lake Victoria, female cichlids prefer males of a certain color, leading to reproductive isolation. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Sexual selection

Question 12

Which of the following best explains why mules are sterile?

Accepted Answer

Mules have an odd number of chromosomes, preventing proper pairing during meiosis.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of temporal isolation?

Accepted Answer

Two species of skunks breed in different seasons.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about polyploidy is correct?

Accepted Answer

Autopolyploidy involves chromosome doubling within a single species.

Question 15

Which of the following is a postzygotic barrier?

Accepted Answer

Reduced hybrid viability

Question 16

If $$p is $$the frequency of the dominant allele and $$q is $$the frequency of the recessive allele in a population, what is the expected frequency of heterozygotes under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

$$2pq$$

Question 17

Which of the following is most likely to trigger allopatric speciation?

Accepted Answer

A river forming and dividing a population of rodents

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the founder effect?

Accepted Answer

A small group of individuals establishes a new population with a different allele frequency than the original population.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a prezygotic barrier?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid breakdown

Question 20

A population of insects splits into two groups, one feeding on a new plant species and the other on the original. Over time, they become reproductively isolated. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Sympatric speciation via habitat differentiation

Population Genetics and Speciation: Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards