Evolution Flashcard

Front

What would cause a beetle population to change from green and red beetles to mainly red beetles over two generations?

Back

Natural Selection

Answer explanation

Natural selection favored red beetles over green due to environmental factors, leading to a higher survival and reproduction rate for red beetles. This change in allele frequency explains the shift in population dominance.

Front

Adaptation for a bird that picks insects out of tree bark: a long, pointed beak, webbed feet, a short, flat beak, long claws

Back

a long, pointed beak

Answer explanation

A long, pointed beak is ideal for extracting insects from tree bark, allowing the bird to reach into crevices. In contrast, webbed feet, a short flat beak, and long claws are not suited for this specific feeding behavior.

Front

Why might populations of giraffes develop longer necks over many generations?

Back

Giraffes with longer necks can obtain food sources other animals cannot reach.

Answer explanation

Giraffes with longer necks can reach higher foliage that shorter giraffes cannot, giving them access to food sources that are otherwise unavailable. This advantage can lead to better survival and reproduction.

Front

What is an adaptation for a predator? Options: hibernation, powerful jaws, migration, thick, heavy coat of fur

Back

powerful jaws

Answer explanation

Powerful jaws are a key adaptation for predators, allowing them to effectively catch and consume prey. In contrast, hibernation, migration, and a thick coat of fur are more related to survival strategies rather than predation.

Front

Why can light-colored Himalayan rabbits survive in snowy mountains while dark-colored rabbits cannot?

Back

Predators can readily locate dark-colored rabbits in the snow, but light-colored rabbits blend in.

Answer explanation

The correct choice explains that light-colored Himalayan rabbits blend into the snowy environment, making it harder for predators to spot them, while dark-colored rabbits are easily seen against the snow, leading to higher predation.

Front

Differences in the size of fins within a codfish population are known as _________. Options: evolution, natural selection, variations, adaptations

Back

variations

Answer explanation

The differences in the size of fins within the codfish population are known as variations. Variations refer to the differences among individuals in a population, which can be in traits like fin size.

Front

Identify the correct flow of terms as they relate to evolution: evolution, adaptation, natural selection, mutation, genetic variation, mutation, adaptation, genetic variation, natural selection, evolution, mutation, genetic variation, adaptation, natural selection, evolution, variation, natural selection, mutation, adaptation, evolution

Back

mutation, genetic variation, adaptation, natural selection, evolution

Answer explanation

The correct flow is mutation (genetic changes), leading to genetic variation (diversity), which results in adaptation (traits suited for survival), followed by natural selection (survival of the fittest), culminating in evolution (change over time).

Front

Which statement best describes the process of evolution?

Back

The characteristics of a species change over time due to natural selection.

Answer explanation

The correct statement highlights that evolution involves changes in a species' characteristics over time, primarily driven by natural selection, which is a key mechanism of evolutionary change.

Front

Considering everything occurring in the diagram below, which term would best represent the following scenario?

Back

natural selection

Answer explanation

Natural selection is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This term best represents the scenario as it involves the selection of traits that enhance survival.

Front

Why are rock pocket mice a good example of natural selection?

Back

The dark mice had a better survival rate after the volcanic eruption.

Answer explanation

The dark mice had a better survival rate after the volcanic eruption, as their fur color provided effective camouflage in the new environment, allowing them to evade predators and pass on their genes, illustrating natural selection.