Evidence of Evolution

Over a long period of time the food supply for several birds on an isolated island has changed.

The original supply of insects, small tender seeds, and vegetation has shrunk while the supply

of tough, large, hard seeds has remained unchanged. Which statement below describes the

species that was most likely successful after the change in their environment?

• A species with small beaks.

• A species who lays many eggs.

• A species with high genetic variation.

• A species that has not evolved before.

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In 1861 paleontologists announced that they had found a fossil with feathers, now known as,

Archaeopteryx, which lived approximately 150 million years ago. When comparing

Archaeopteryx to other small dinosaurs and modern-day birds, the paleontologists learned that

Archaeopteryx had more in common with dinosaurs. The Archaeopteryx were small and had

broad wings which likely gave them the ability to fly or glide. How can the Archaeopteryx fossils

be used to support the theory of evolution?

• They can demonstrate that animals from long ago are still alive today.

• They show how organisms today share characteristics with fossilized species.

• They give evidence to support the idea that organisms inherit the best traits from their

  parents.

• They indicate that evolution is a theory because scientists do not completely understand

  the fossil record.

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Shell color is genetic in the European large banded snail. Scientists who study these snails

found that snails with a lighter colored shells have a lower body temperature than those with a

darker color. Currently, the habitat of the large banded snails is warming due to climate

change. What impact will climate change most likely have on the population of the large

banded snails?

• They will evolve into a new species without a protective shell.

• Their shells will get lighter, because their environment will be hotter.

• Their shells will get darker so they can absorb more energy from the sun.

• They will go extinct as they are unable to adapt to their changing environment.

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Pictured below are different wild cats from the family Felidae, found in Africa, Europe, Asia and

the Americas. They have adapted to a variety of habitats like forests, deserts, wetlands and

mountains.

Which statement below best explains how evolution by natural selection influenced the

variation demonstrated by the cat family - Felidae?

• Different traits evolved in each species in order to adapt to the environment where they

  live.

• Members of Felidae do not share common ancestors so each species has their own

  unique traits.

• Cats have largely been unaffected by evolution because they are bred and influenced by

  humans.

• Different adaptations observed in Felidae are not significant enough to be influenced by

  natural selection.

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Pictured above is Astyanax mexicanus, a type of freshwater fish found in caves and other

underground habitats across Mexico and the southern part of the United States. Both the

surface and cavefish belong to the same species, but unlike the surface fish, the cavefish has

no eyes.

How can the survival of the cavefish population be explained?

• Cavefish population has survived in caves without eyes because it is an adaptation to the

  environment.

• A cavefish produced offspring after having lost its eyes in an injury and changed the

  population overtime.

• The surface was too bright and predators were catching them, so they adapted to be

  transparent in color.

• Cavefish were too far away from sunlight, causing problems in their development and

  changing their appearance.

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Which of the following statements best explains why genetic variation is important to the

survival of a population?

• Genetic variation decreases gene flow in the population.

• Genetic variation decrease the likelihood of genetic mutation.

• Genetic variation increases the size of animals so that more offspring will be produced.

• Genetic variation increases the likelihood of an allele being present that is best suited for

  the environment.

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Anthropologists recently discovered skull fragments from a previously unknown primate. The

mandible (jaw bone) of the skull is shown below along with mandibles of other known primates.

Why would scientists use the fossil records to help them determine the species of the unknown

primate?

• To compare the evolution of its relatives.

• To see if the fossil has the same mass as a jaw of other primates.

• To determine if the fossil has the same number of teeth as a modern primate.

• To identify evolutionary relationships between the unknown and known fossils.

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Alexis learned about the Universal Law of Gravitation which states every object is attracted to every other object with a force that is determined by their mass and distance. Why is it considered a law and not a theory?

• Everyone can observe how gravity affects an object, so it is a law.

• Gravity can be explained using observations and has been proven with repeated successful testing, so it is a law.

• It describes what happens in nature, appears to be without exception and is supported by repeated successful testing, so it is a law.

• All scientists accept gravity's effect on objects as a true concept, and there is no debate about its existence or how it works, so that makes it a law

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Scientists are able to explain why the plates move on Earth's surface using seafloor spreading as evidence. Which statement below explains why this is an accepted theory?

• It states the relationship between the seafloor and the continents.

• It states the exact movement and rate at which the plates move around on Earth.

• It explains why certain areas on Earth's surface experience earthquakes and volcanoes

• Several geologists have been able to predict that our continents will move back together in 100 years

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Below is a list of evidences scientists have gathered on the theory of plate tectonics over time.

- Continental boundaries showed evidence that they fit together and once formed a single landmass that separated and drifted apart

- Rocks of different ages show changes in magnetic field direction

- Oceanic crust disappears into the mantle (sea floor spreading) Why is the collection of evidence necessary for plate tectonic theory?

• Scientists do not understand the theory of plate tectonics so it needs to be modified

• A theory needs a large body of evidence to support our understanding of natural events.

• A theory must be supported with evidence from each scientist studying the natural event

• Scientists should always add more evidence to existing theories, so they cannot be disproved.

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