Amplify Natural Selection End of Unit Assessment

If their environment changes to have only long flowers, which of the following hummingbird populations will most likely survive?

• Only population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation.

• All the populations will survive because the hummingbirds will change the length of their beaks if they need to.

• Populations 1 and 2 will survive.

• Populations 2 and 3 will survive.

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How did the environment change between time 1 and time 2? How did the population change?

(HINT:Ducks with thinner feathers withstand hot environments, but die in cold. Ducks with thick feathers die in hot environments, but thrive in cold.)

• The water became warm. As a result, ducks with thin feathers were more likely to survive, so the ducks with thick feathers changed to have thin feathers.

• The water became warm. As a result, ducks with thin feathers were more likely to survive, so both kinds of ducks passed on the gene for thin feathers to their offspring.

• The water became warm. With each generation, more ducks with thin feathers survived long enough to pass on the gene for thin feathers to their offspring.

• You cannot tell how the environment changed. With each generation, more ducks passed on the gene for thin feathers to their offspring.

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Which prediction best shows what the population could look like after many generations? What caused it to change?

• Prediction 1 is best. Two yellow or red snakes had a baby with a mutation in its genes for the green-skin trait. Because green snakes are more likely to survive, that baby survived long enough to pass on its mutation, so the green trait became more common over generations.

• Prediction 1 is best. Green snakes are more likely to survive, so yellow and red snakes began to have offspring with mutations in their genes for the green-skin trait so that their offspring would have a better chance of surviving.

• Prediction 2 is best. A snake could have been born with a mutation in its genes for the green-skin trait and lived for a little while. Because green snakes are more likely to die, it would have been more likely to die before it had offspring, so the final population will only have yellow and red snakes.

• Prediction 2 is best. A snake could have been born with a mutation in its genes for the green-skin trait, but having a mutation in its genes would have caused it to die when it was born, so the final population will only have yellow and red snakes.

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The river bottoms are covered in rocks. Guppies with spots that are the same size as the rocks on the bottom are harder for bigger fish to see and catch.

7. How did the environment change between time 1 and time 2? How did the population change?

• You cannot tell how the environment changed. With each generation, more guppies passed on the gene for small spots to their offspring.

• The rocks became smaller. With each generation, more guppies with small spots survived long enough to pass on the gene for small spots to their offspring.

• The rocks became smaller. Guppies with small spots are more likely to survive, so the guppies with large spots changed to have small spots.

• The rocks became smaller. Guppies with small spots are more likely to survive, so both kinds of guppies passed on the gene for small spots to their offspring.

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Imagine a population of beetles with varying shell colors living in a forest with mostly dark trees and soil. Over time, what would you expect to happen to the frequency of dark-shelled beetles in the population, assuming darker colors provide better camouflage from predators?

• The frequency of dark-shelled beetles decreases.

• The frequency of dark-shelled beetles increases.

• The frequency of dark-shelled beetles remains the same.

• The shell color of the beetles changes to lighter shades.

Answer explanation

Darker colors provide better camouflage from predators, so the frequency of dark-shelled beetles would increase over time in a forest with mostly dark trees and soil.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Consider a plant species that thrives in moist soil conditions. If a prolonged drought occurs, what adaptation might you expect future generations of this plant species to develop?

• Thicker leaves to store more water.

• Deeper root systems to access underground water.

• Brighter colored flowers to attract more pollinators.

• Smaller overall size to reduce water usage.

Answer explanation

Deeper root systems would help the plant access underground water during prolonged droughts, aiding in its survival and adaptation to the dry conditions.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

In a habitat where food resources are becoming scarce due to environmental changes, how might animals in this environment adapt to the increased competition for food?

• By developing faster speeds to catch prey or reach food sources quickly.

• By decreasing their metabolic rates to require less food.

• By growing larger to intimidate competitors.

• By forming symbiotic relationships with other species to share resources.

Answer explanation

By developing faster speeds to catch prey or reach food sources quickly.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

A bird species in an island ecosystem feeds primarily on large seeds. Following a hurricane, the only remaining seeds are small. How might this affect the bird population's beak size over several generations?

• Beak sizes will increase to handle larger seeds better.

• Beak sizes will decrease to handle smaller seeds more effectively.

• Beak sizes will not change; birds will find alternative food sources.

• Beak sizes will vary widely without any specific trend.

Answer explanation

Beak sizes will decrease to handle smaller seeds more effectively.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Which prediction best shows what the population could look like after many generations? What caused it to change?

• Prediction 1 is best. Two brown or gray foxes had a baby with a mutation in its genes for the white-fur trait. Because white foxes are more likely to survive, that baby survived long enough to pass on its mutation, so the white-fur trait became more common over generations.

• Prediction 1 is best. White foxes are more likely to survive, so brown and gray foxes began to have offspring with mutations in their genes for the white-fur trait so that their offspring would have a better chance of surviving.

• Prediction 2 is best. A fox could have been born with a mutation in its genes for the white-fur trait and lived for a little while. Because white foxes are more likely to die, it would have been more likely to die before it had offspring, so the final population will only have brown and gray foxes.

• Prediction 2 is best. A fox could have been born with a mutation in its genes for the white-fur trait, but having a mutation in its genes would have caused it to die when it was born, so the final population will only have brown and gray foxes.

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If their environment changes so that there are many floods each year, which of the following lizard populations will most likely survive?

(HINT: Lizards with shorter legs are better at climbing trees than lizards with longer legs. This makes lizards with shorter legs better at escaping from the floods that sometimes cover the islands.)

• All the populations will survive because the lizards will change the length of their legs if they need to.

• Populations 1 and 2 will most likely survive.

• Populations 2 and 3 will most likely survive.

• Only Population 2 will survive because it is the only population with variation.

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