Question 1

Which of the following best describes the biological species concept?

Accepted Answer

A group of populations whose members have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Temporal isolation

Question 3

A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Mules are robust but sterile. Which reproductive barrier does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Reduced hybrid fertility

Question 4

Which process is most likely to result in the formation of a new species within a single generation in plants?

Accepted Answer

Polyploidy

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a limitation of the biological species concept?

Accepted Answer

It can be applied to all prokaryotes.

Question 6

Which scenario best illustrates allopatric speciation?

Accepted Answer

A river forms and divides a population of rodents, leading to genetic divergence.

Question 7

Which of the following is a postzygotic barrier?

Accepted Answer

Reduced hybrid viability

Question 8

A population of flies switches from laying eggs on hawthorn to apples, resulting in reproductive isolation. Which mechanism is primarily responsible?

Accepted Answer

Habitat differentiation

Question 9

Which of the following equations best represents the sum of chromosome numbers in an allopolyploid species formed from two parent species with diploid numbers $$2n_1$$ and $$2n_2$$?

Accepted Answer

$$2n_1 + 2n_2$$

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of reinforcement in hybrid zones?

Accepted Answer

Hybrids are less fit, leading to stronger prezygotic barriers.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the difference between microevolution and macroevolution?

Accepted Answer

Microevolution involves changes in allele frequency within a population, while macroevolution involves broad patterns of evolutionary change above the species level.

Question 12

Which of the following is a real-world example of temporal isolation?

Accepted Answer

Western spotted skunks mate in summer and eastern spotted skunks mate in winter.

Question 13

Which of the following is a likely outcome if hybrids are as fit as their parent species in a hybrid zone?

Accepted Answer

Fusion

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the concept of punctuated equilibria?

Accepted Answer

Species appear suddenly, persist unchanged, and then disappear.

Question 15

Which of the following is a disadvantage of the morphological species concept?

Accepted Answer

It relies on subjective criteria.

Question 16

Which of the following is a common feature of sympatric speciation?

Accepted Answer

Polyploidy

Question 17

If a hybrid zone remains stable over time, what is the most likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

Gene flow from outside the hybrid zone overwhelms selection for reproductive isolation.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of mechanical isolation?

Accepted Answer

Snails with opposite shell spirals cannot align their genital openings.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes macroevolution?

Accepted Answer

The cumulative effect of many speciation and extinction events.

Speciation: The Origin of Species

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