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

A population of birds is separated by the formation of a new river. Over time, the two populations diverge genetically and can no longer interbreed even if brought together. What type of speciation has occurred?

Accepted Answer

Allopatric speciation

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Temporal isolation

Question 4

Two species of frogs mate at different times of the year. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Temporal isolation

Question 5

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates habitat isolation?

Accepted Answer

Two species of flies mate on different host plants.

Question 6

A mule is the offspring of a horse and a donkey, but mules are sterile. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Hybrid infertility

Question 7

Which of the following is a limitation of the biological species concept?

Accepted Answer

It cannot be applied to asexual organisms.

Question 8

Polyploidy is most likely to result in speciation in which group of organisms?

Accepted Answer

Plants

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the process of reinforcement in hybrid zones?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection strengthens prezygotic barriers, reducing hybrid formation.

Question 10

In the fossil record, a species appears suddenly, persists unchanged for millions of years, and then disappears. This pattern is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Punctuated equilibria

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of behavioral isolation?

Accepted Answer

Two species of birds have different mating dances.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Sympatric speciation

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a prezygotic barrier?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid inviability

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why gene flow between populations holds a species together genetically?

Accepted Answer

Gene flow prevents populations from diverging genetically.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of postzygotic isolation?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid offspring of two species of fish are sterile.

Question 17

Which of the following is a real-world example of allopatric speciation?

Accepted Answer

Snapping shrimp species diverging after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about macroevolution is correct?

Accepted Answer

Macroevolution involves broad patterns of evolutionary change above the species level.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Fusion of the two parent species into one

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the cumulative effect of many speciation and extinction events?

Accepted Answer

Macroevolution

The Origin of Species: Mechanisms and Patterns of Speciation

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards