Mechanism of Evolution

There are two populations of salamanders living on nearby islands. If some of the salamanders from Island A were able to reach Island B and join the salamander population there, which of the following would result?

• an increase in genetic variation on Island A

• an increase in genetic variation on Island B

• genetic drift on Island A

• natural selection on Island A

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Some insects are resistant to certain pesticides, chemicals that are sprayed on crops to keep the insects from eating them. The insects that are resistant are not affected by the pesticides. The resistance to pesticides that some individual insects have is a result of--

• the behavior of those insects.

• the genetic makeup of those insects.

• transfer of resistance from one individual insect to another.

• individual insects becoming resistant over time.

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Researchers compared a specific protein across different species. The table shows the number of differences in the protein between the species. Which conclusion do these data support?

• The ladybug and the beetle are the most closely related.

• The cricket and the grasshopper are the most closely related.

• The grasshopper and the beetle are the least closely related.

• The wolf spider and the grasshopper are the least closely related.

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In order for evolution to occur, there must be a change in the—

• climate of the environment.

• genes on an individual in the population.

• genetic makeup of a population.

• rate of mutations in the population.

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Researchers studying medium ground finches on the island of Daphne Major in the Galapagos Islands collected the data below on the survival rates of finches with different sized beaks over a three-year period that included a drought. Which statement about the finches in this environment is best supported by the data?

• Finches with large beaks are more fit for the environment than finches with small beaks are.

• Finches with large beaks had more genes than the other finches did.

• Finches with small beaks reproduce more quickly than finches with large beaks.

• Finches with large beaks reproduce more quickly than finches with small beaks.

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Limited resources contribute to the process of evolution by natural selection by—

• creating competition between organisms of the same species for survival.

• increasing the number of predators in a population.

• altering the genetic makeup of organisms within a species.

• limiting the amount of oxygen available for respiration.

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A population of salamanders, 50% of whom were spotted, decreased from 500 to only 100 in just a few months when a drought dried up much of the lake they inhabit. The remaining population had a much higher frequency of spotted than non-spotted salamanders compared with the original population. The most likely cause for this change is --

• genetic drift.

• gene flow.

• mutation.

• artificial selection.

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• a

• b

• c

• d

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Relies on inheritable variation, overproduction, differential success and competition.

• Mutation

• Natural Selection

• Gene Flow

• Genetic Drift

• Non-random Mating

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Tortoises on a certain Galapagos Island have evolved to have a saddle shaped shell, long neck, and lengthy forelimbs because the food available to them is perched high atop the cactus plant.

• Mutation

• Natural Selection

• Gene Flow

• Genetic Drift

• Non-random Mating

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