10.8–10.10: Evolutionary trees help us conceptualize and categorize biodiversity.
Evolutionary trees reveal the evolutionary history of species and the sequence of speciation events that gave rise to them.
Question 10.20
Phylogenetic trees should be viewed as:
- a) true genealogical relationships among species.
- b) the result of vertical, but never horizontal, gene transfer.
- c) intellectual exercises, not to be interpreted literally.
- d) representations of allopatric speciation events.
- e) hypotheses regarding evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms.
Question 10.21
The difference between microevolution and macroevolution is that:
- a) macroevolution takes place over long periods of time, whereas microevolution takes place over relatively short periods.
- b) macroevolution occurs with physical structures, whereas microevolution occurs with physiological traits.
- c) microevolution occurs with physical structures, whereas macroevolution occurs with physiological traits.
- d) microevolution has been proven, whereas macroevolution is very speculative.
- e) microevolution occurs in prokaryotes, whereas macroevolution takes place among eukaryotes.
Question 10.22
The idea of punctuated equilibrium challenges which component of Darwin’s theory of evolution?
- a) steady change
- b) gradualism
- c) species stasis
- d) Both a) and b) are correct.
- e) None of the above are correct.
Question 10.23
Which of the following scenarios would best facilitate adaptive radiation?
- a) A population of birds native to an island archipelago is forced to relocate to the mainland by a storm.
- b) A population of cheetahs goes through an event in which all genetic diversity in the population is wiped out.
- c) Darker-
colored moths have a selective advantage over lighter- colored moths due to industrial soot on trees. - d) A population of birds becomes stranded on an island archipelago.
- e) All of the above are equally likely to facilitate adaptive radiation.
