Exam 2 questions

Question 1

Fill in the blank. Cetartiodactyla (whales and ungulates) is more closely related to _________________.

• Eulipotyphla
• Carnivora
• Lagomorpha
• Primates

Answer 1

Carnivora

Question 2

Which word is incorrect in the following statement?

Placental mammals (Placentalia) form a monophyletic group. Monotremata is an ancestral lineage that diverged from the basal node in mammals during the Jurassic. Marsupial (Marsupialia) and placental mammals are sister clades.

• clades
• monophyletic
• sister
• ancestral
• basal

Answer 2

ancestral

Question 3

You just discovered that a sister pair of birds (blue and yellow species) on these two islands are genetically divergent. You are then wondering what biogeographic process led to each species being on a different island. Which biogeographic process is this due to?

• Due to vicariance
• Due to dispersal
• Due to the emergence of a volcanic islands
• You can’t tell

Answer 3

You can’t tell

Question 4

What evolutionary force causes reticulate evolution?

• gene flow (hybridization)
• mutation
• natural selection
• drift

Answer 4

gene flow (hybridization)

Question 5

Marine mammals (red lines) have independently evolved many adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle (etc… reduction of hair and olfactory senses, flipper-like limbs, etc…). These adaptations are examples of ________________ evolution?

• progressive
• divergent
• convergent
• reticulate

Answer 5

convergent

Question 6

Fill in the blank. Marine mammals (red lineages) are a _____________ group.

• polyphyletic
• monophyletic
• paraphyletic
  *

Answer 6

polyphyletic

Question 7

Based on the phylogeny, the ornithologist is making the statement that grouping reptiles and amphibians into the same discipline (herpetology) is awkward because reptiles are monophyletic with what other group(s)?

• amphibians only
• birds only
• amphibians and birds
• mammals only

Answer 7

birds only

Question 8

Based on the phylogenetic tree, which of the following two groups are most closely related?

• mammals and snakes
• birds and crocodilians
• turtles and snakes
• ray-finned fishes and lobe-finned fishes

Answer 8

birds and crocodilians

Question 9

True or False: The wings of bats and butterflies represent homologous traits

Answer 9

False

Question 10

By mapping characters onto a phylogenetic tree, one can

• none are correct
• assess whether they are homologous or convergent
• figure what came first, the chicken or the egg?
• evaluate trait evolution
• all are correct

Answer 10

all are correct

Question 11

Based on the figure, which of the following statements is true?

• Fish are not a monophyletic group.
• Tetrapod vertebrates are not a monophyletic group.
• Lampreys are not a monophyletic group.
• Amphibians are not a monophyletic group.

Answer 11

Fish are not a monophyletic group.

Question 12

Which biogeographic hypothesis would be tested if ancient erosion of the tepuis caused animals or plants to become fragmented on the remaining tepuis?

• vicariance
• dispersal
• divergence
• none of these

Answer 12

vicariance

Question 13

A recent study explored various biogeographic hypotheses to explain how different species of Tepuihyla frogs exist on different tepuis. What hypothesis was supported from the molecular phylogenetic result?

• vicariance
• not enough information to support any hypothesis
• divergence
• dispersal

Answer 13

dispersal

Question 14

The map shows spatial variation in the intensity of the “arms race” between newts (and their lethal toxins) and garter snakes (resistance to the toxins). Colder colors (purple, blues, and greens) represent low-intensity “arms-race” areas and warmer colors (red, orange, yellow) represent high-intensity areas. What factor best explains why there are high intensity areas?

• lack of alternative prey for the snakes
• high gene flow between high- and low-intensity areas in both newts and snakes
• the availability of lots of alternative prey for snakes
• hybridization between snakes in high and low intensity areas

Answer 14

lack of alternative prey for the snakes

Question 15

The above figure shows an example of _______________?

• reinforcement
• ecological character displacement
• convergent evolution
• antagonistic coevolution

Answer 15

ecological character displacement

Question 16

Hybridization can be an important precursor to some adaptive radiations because ____________.

• hybrids are less fit than either parental species
• gene flow increase genetic variation
• gene flow decreases genetic variation
• parental species are more adapted to novel environments than hybrids

Answer 16

gene flow increase genetic variation

Question 17

When reinforcement occurs, the trait(s) involved in reproductive isolation between the hybridizing parental species (or populations) are _____________ in sympatry than they are when the two species are in allopatry.

• the same between the area of sympatry and allopatry.
• more different in sympatry than they are when the two species are in allopatry.
• less different in sympatry than they are when the two species are in allopatry.
• missing in the area of sympatry, but not in allopatry.

Answer 17

more different in sympatry than they are when the two species are in allopatry.

Question 18

The map shows spatial variation in the intensity of the “arms race” between newts (and their lethal toxins) and garter snakes (resistance to the toxins). Colder colors (purple, blues, and greens) represent low-intensity “arms-race” areas and warmer colors (red, orange, yellow) represent high-intensity areas. What would happen to an individual snake from a blue area if it moved into a red area and ate a newt?

• it would likely survive to eat more newts
• it would likely die
• it would adapt to eating newts
• it would wait for a mutation in its genome so it could eat a newt

Answer 18

it would likely die

Question 19

Hybridization is more likely to play role in adaptive radiation when

• there are novel ecological niches available to hybrid offspring.
• there is no possibility of introgression.
• the environment where hybridization occurs is homogeneous.
• hybridization occurs among varieties of the same species.

Answer 19

there are novel ecological niches available to hybrid offspring.

Question 20

An evolutionary arms race happens when

• Both partners benefit from interactions with each other
• One partner changes in response to selection pressure imposed by another in a pairwise coevolution interaction
• Coevolution involves more than two species
• Each partner in a pairwise antagonistic interaction successively changes in response to selection imposed by the other

Answer 20

Each partner in a pairwise antagonistic interaction successively changes in response to selection imposed by the other

Question 21

True or False: The evolution of more diverse prey phenotypes should increase potential niche diversity for predators.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

The theory of mosaic coevolution focuses on

• coevolutionary outcomes of a single species over the metapopulation (population of multiple subpopulations) the species occupies within its range.
• diversity as a result of geographic variation in coevolutionary outcomes among multiple taxa.
• the coevolutionary outcome of a species pair throughout its geographic distribution.
• examining coevolutionary outcomes between different taxa within a single community.

Answer 22

the coevolutionary outcome of a species pair throughout its geographic distribution.

Question 23

An evolutionary arms race can result in a coevolutionary adaptive radiation.

• True
• False

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Two ecologically similar species of anole lizards have been brought into coexistence by a human-caused introduction on the island of Dominica. This island was naturally occupied by a single species of anole (Anolis oculatus). Sometime around 1998, A. cristatellus, a native of Puerto Rico was introduced by humans. The introduced A. cristatellus is ecologically and morphologically very similar to the native A. oculatus, so much so that several scientists predicted that the species would compete strongly, possibly even leading to the extinction of the native species. Extinction didn’t happen, but something else did.

Question: Based on the information in the figure, what was the outcome of the interaction between these species with respect to their perching height?

• hybrid speciation
• ecological character displacement
• convergent evolution
• antagonistic coevolution
• mutualistic coevolution

Answer 24

ecological character displacement

Question 25

Anolis lizards are a great example of an adaptive radiation and have diversified in species and ecomorphology across the Caribbean Islands. In this study, each island (Cuba [C]; Hispaniola [H]; Jamaica [J]; and Puerto Rico [P]) has multiple ecomorph species (an ecomorph is a species that has evolved morphological traits associated with ecological specializations). In this system, competition for habitat has driven species to evolve habitat specializations. As a consequence of this, there are 6 ecomorphs (crown, grass-bush, trunk, etc…) across the Caribbean and 4 of these ecomorphs are consistently found on all of the islands (as shown in the bottom phylogeny).

The topologies between the morphological-based phylogeny (top) and molecular-based phylogeny using neutral DNA sequence data (middle) are very different. The morphological-based phylogeny shows clades that are perfectly grouped by different ecomorphs and the molecular based phylogeny show clades that are almost perfectly grouped by different islands.

Question: Based on the available information and assuming the molecular phylogeny is representative of the true species tree, what evolutionary process(es) has led to the same 4 ecomorphs found on different islands.

• antagonistic coevolution
• hybrid speciation
• neutrality
• convergent evolution
• mutualistic coevolution

Answer 25

convergent evolution

Question 26

Perform a relative rates test using the information above (i.e. calculate the percent difference for the genes listed) select the correct answer(s) below.

• Given the info above, it is impossible to determine which genes are appropriate for determining which species are evolving fastest
• palA, bryC and andI are evolving at a relatively slower rate in zebras
• Given the genes used, wild horses are not evolving more quickly than zebras, relative to African Elephants
• Only zakE appears to be evolving at a faster relative rate than the other five genes

Answer 26

Given the genes used, wild horses are not evolving more quickly than zebras, relative to African Elephants

Only zakE appears to be evolving at a faster relative rate than the other five genes

Question 27

Twelve chromosomes (Chr) present in two hypothetical plant species, Bryan carstenii (x-axis) and Andi wolfii (y-axis), were compared and those comparisons were depicted as synteny plots.

Given the various synteny plots that depict the comparison of twelve chromosomes (Chr) between two plant species, select all of the statements below that are correct:

(You will lose 1 point for each incorrect answer, so pick wisely!)

• The evolution of genes encoded on Chr. II and V in these plant species is likely more constrained than genes on Chr III and VI
• Despite the several inversions in Chr IV, these two species share many of the same genes present on this chromosome
• If given only Chr. III, VI and IX, you can correctly conclude that these plant species are closely related, experience identical selective pressures and have very recently diverged.
• It is impossible to detect inversions and deletions in genome synteny analyses
• At least three rearrangements have occured in Chr II since the divergence of these species
• >90% all of the genes in Chr III are syntenic between these two species
• If given only Chr X, it would be possible to distinguish between B. carstenii and A. wolfii
• Since the divergence of these plant species, genes on Chr XII have rearranged only once or twice.

Answer 27

The evolution of genes encoded on Chr. II and V in these plant species is likely more constrained than genes on Chr III and VI

Despite the several inversions in Chr IV, these two species share many of the same genes present on this chromosome

At least three rearrangements have occured in Chr II since the divergence of these species

If given only Chr X, it would be possible to distinguish between B. carstenii and A. wolfii

Question 28

Based on the figure shown, which of the following statements is FALSE?

• Eubacteria have greater base substitution rates than Archaeans.
• Invertebrates have greater base substitution mutation rates than mammals.
• RNA viruses have greater base substitution rates than DNA viruses.
• Unicellular eukaryotes have greater base substitution rates than Eubacteria.

Answer 28

Invertebrates have greater base substitution mutation rates than mammals.

Question 29

Perform a relative rates test using the information above (i.e. calculate the percent difference for the genes listed) select the correct answer(s) below.

• zakE, palA, bryC and andI, but not colE, are evolving at a relatively faster rate in zebras
• Given the genes used, zebras are evolving more quickly than wild horses, relative to African Elephants
• Given the genes used, wild horses are evolving at the same rate as zebras, relative to African Elephants
• Given the info above, it is impossible to determine which genes are appropriate for determining which species are evolving fastest

Answer 29

zakE, palA, bryC and andI, but not colE, are evolving at a relatively faster rate in zebras

Question 30

Which of the mutations in the figure depicts a nonsense mutation?

• A nonsense mutation is not pictured.
• Mutation C
• Mutation B
• Mutation A

Answer 30

Mutation C

Question 31

Mutations in the ________region can alter the actual gene product while mutations in the __________region can alter only how the gene product is expressed.

Answer 31

Functional / Regulatory

Question 32

GC content refers to the

• G-value paradox.
• number of genes on a chromosome.
• fraction of G and C nucleotides in the genome.
• C-value paradox.

Answer 32

fraction of G and C nucleotides in the genome.

Question 33

__________is encoded by one codon, which means that any point mutations in this codon are __________
Hint: all answers are one word…spelling is important!

Answer 33

Tryptophan / Nonsynonymous

Question 34

You are an NSF research officer who gets paid the big bucks to spot fraud and errors in grant progress reports. Your assistant (a graduate of University of Michigan…) has flagged several suspect passages from some recent progress reports for you to review. Identify the correct statements so the grants associated with them will get funded! (You will lose points for each incorrect selection, so choose wisely!)

• Viral genomes are only circular and largely comprised of genes that encode enzymes involved in nuclear organelle and mitochondrial assembly and function.
• Transposable elements are fundamentally beneficial for the conservation of genome architecture and the integrity of protein coding genes
• Horizontal gene transfer between eukaryotes and bacteria has not been observed
• Genome shrinkage in endosymbionts of insects is largely driven by the loss of genes that are not essential for the maintenance of the mutualism
• Horizontal gene transfer occurs when upon viral particles encapsulate host genes and transduce them into new, recipeint hosts

Answer 34

Genome shrinkage in endosymbionts of insects is largely driven by the loss of genes that are not essential for the maintenance of the mutualism

Horizontal gene transfer occurs when upon viral particles encapsulate host genes and transduce them into new, recipeint hosts

Question 35

Of the various nucleotide sites, which has the greatest probability of acquiring mutations quickly?

• twofold degenerate sites
• nondegenerate sites
• introns
• 5’ flanking regions

Answer 35

introns

Question 36

With no mutation, an mRNA sequence reads “UCA,” which codes for serine. A mutation arises that changes the sequence to “UCC,” which codes for serine. This is an example of all of the following types of mutation EXCEPT

• nonsense mutation.
• transversion.
• synonymous mutation.
• point mutation.

Answer 36

nonsense mutation.

Question 37

What does the figure convey about genome size in prokaryotes?

• The number of protein-coding genes decreases with genome size.
• Bacteria have larger genomes than Archaeans.
• Free-living bacteria generally have larger genomes than do obligate symbionts.
• There is strong evidence of G-value paradox in prokaryotes.

Answer 37

Free-living bacteria generally have larger genomes than do obligate symbionts.

Question 38

Which of the following statements is true?

• Most mutations are beneficial with respect to fitness.
• In order for fitness to be affected, a mutation must affect a large portion of a gene.
• Most mutations are either neutral or deleterious with respect to fitness.
• Only a small fraction of mutations are lethal.

Answer 38

Most mutations are either neutral or deleterious with respect to fitness.

Question 39

What evolutionary process would we expect small population sizes to lead to?

• Migration
• Genetic Drift
• Natural Selection
• Mutation

Answer 39

Genetic Drift

Question 40

Imagine a team of researchers measures the phylogenetic distance between sea turtle species in communities all around the Gulf of Mexico. They find seven species of turtles originating from the Gulf of Mexico, two species of turtles originating from the east coast of Florida (a short distance from the Gulf of Mexico), and three species of turtle originating from the South China Sea. Which hypothesis do you suspect they were testing?

• Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography
• Darwin’s Naturalization Hypothesis (DNH)
• Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH)
• Evolution of Increase Competitive Ability (EICA)

Answer 40

Darwin’s Naturalization Hypothesis (DNH)

Question 41

If you were a border control employee for a small island which type of import would worry you most?

• rare plants unadapted to the climate
• small mammals to be sold in pet shops
• sterilized straw for animal feed
• fumigated wood previously checked for insects

Answer 41

small mammals to be sold in pet shops

Question 42

What aspect of the Enemy Release Hypothesis do we expect to benefit biocontrol?

• Invasive species will have evolved reduced defenses against enemies leaving them vulnerable to attack by biocontrol enemies
• Invasive species will have evolved an increased competitive ability that will allow them to outcompete native species
• Invasive species will have evolved increased defenses against enemies allowing them to resist biocontrol enemy attacks

Answer 42

Invasive species will have evolved reduced defenses against enemies leaving them vulnerable to attack by biocontrol enemies

Question 43

What are the two components of the definition of invasive species?

• Species 1) have become established in their new environment, and 2) are problematic in their new environment
• Species 1) have been moved, and 2) have become established in their new environment
• Species 1) have been moved, and 2) are problematic in their new environment
• Species 1) are problematic in their old environment, and 2) problematic in their new environment

Answer 43

Species 1) have been moved, and 2) are problematic in their new environment

Question 44

Imagine you survey the genetic diversity in a population of invasive mussels and the genetic diversity of the same mussel species in its native range. If there was only one founding event of the mussel species in the invaded range, what would you expect to find?

• A bottleneck has led to reduced genetic diversity in the introduced range
• Genetic drift in the invaded species has led to increased genetic diversity in the introduced range
• A bottleneck has led to increased genetic diversity in the introduced range
• Genetic drift in the invaded species has led to reduced genetic diversity in the introduced range

Answer 44

A bottleneck has led to reduced genetic diversity in the introduced range

Question 45

What two (2) traits below would most likely promote invasive species success in their new environment?

• Reduced size
• Increased competitive ability
• Changes in water use
• Escape from enemies (disease, predators, herbivores)

Answer 45

Increased competitive ability

Escape from enemies (disease, predators, herbivores)

Question 46

Read the following passage and select the correct conclusions.

Despite the large number of studies on biological invasions addressing this hypothesis, tests evaluating changes in herbivory on native and introduced populations and their effects on plant reproductive potential at a biogeographical level are relatively rare. South African species Senecio pterophorus (Asteraceae), which is native to the Eastern Cape, has expanded into the Western Cape, and was introduced into Australia (>70-100 years ago) and Europe (>30 years ago). Insect seed predation was evaluated across native and invaded ranges. In South Africa, 25 % of the seedheads of sampled plants were damaged. Plants from the introduced populations suffered lower seed predation compared to those from the native populations (Europe 0.2 % vs. Australia 15 %). The insect communities feeding on S. pterophorus in Australia and Europe differed from those found in South Africa.

ANSWERS

as expected under the ER hypothesis, and this release was more pronounced in the region with the most recent introduction

• The plants were released from their associated fauna after invasion and later established new associations with local herbivore communities in the novel habitats.
• This study provides evidence of novel weapons in a biogeographical survey.
• This study provides evidence of enemy release in a biogeographical survey.
• The Enemy Release (ER) hypothesis predicts a decrease in the plant invasive capacity after being released from their associated herbivores or pathogens in their area of origin.
• It is reasonable to expect that enemy release was more pronounced in the region with the most recent introduction under the ER hypothesis.

Answer 46

The plants were released from their associated fauna after invasion and later established new associations with local herbivore communities in the novel habitats.

This study provides evidence of enemy release in a biogeographical survey.

It is reasonable to expect that enemy release was more pronounced in the region with the most recent introduction under the ER hypothesis.

Question 47

Imagine you survey a population of invasive Canadian Thistles (a plant) and find they have an increased competitive ability compared to individuals of the same species from the native range. What other trait changes might you expect to be selected for in the invading population?

• Decreased growth rate
• Increased nutrient use efficiency
• Increased tolerance to pathogens
• Decreased defense against natural enemies

Answer 47

Decreased defense against natural enemies

Question 48

Which two hypotheses describing invasive species suggest that introducing a predator that attacks the invasive species from the native range of the invasive species would lead to a decrease (control) of an invasive species?

• Darwin’s Naturalization Hypothesis (DNH) and Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH)
• Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability (EICA) and Darwin’s Naturalization Hypothesis (DNH)
• Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH) and Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability (EICA)
• Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography and Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability (EICA)

Answer 48

Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH) and Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability (EICA)

Question 49

Imagine a marmot species originally from Europe has invaded New Zealand. (Marmots are a species of small mammals.) How would you test whether it has benefited from the Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH)?

• Compare damage or loss by enemies (diseases, predators) on the invading marmot species in the new range (New Zealand) versus the original range of the invading marmot species (Europe)
• Compare damage or loss by enemies (diseases, predators) on the invading marmot species versus damage or loss on native small mammal species in the same community in the new range of the invading marmot species (New Zealand)
• Compare damage or loss by enemies (diseases, predators) on the invading marmot species in the original range (Europe) versus other small mammal species in the original range of the invading marmot species (Europe)
• Compare damage or loss by enemies (diseases, predators) on the invading marmot species in the new range (New Zealand) versus other small mammal species in the original range of the invading marmot species (Europe)

Answer 49

Compare damage or loss by enemies (diseases, predators) on the invading marmot species in the new range (New Zealand) versus the original range of the invading marmot species (Europe)

Question 50

Canola, a crop bred for high yields and tolerance to herbivory, is grown across Europe and is closely related to wild mustard. Researchers in Europe have documented a recent explosion in wild mustard populations and wild mustard invading new areas. In these new areas with wild mustard what might you test for?

• Evidence of hybridization with Canola
• Degree of relatedness to neighboring species
• Evidence of escape from enemies
• Bottleneck effects

Answer 50

Evidence of hybridization with Canola