Natural selection is a process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment tend to increase in size. |
survive. |
Which was Charles Darwin's contribution to the study of biology? He was the first person to recognize that organisms change over time. |
He proposed that natural selection is the primary mechanism of evolution. |
According to the concept of "survival of the fittest," if a population of birds eats worms that they find deep under ground by using their beaks, which members of the bird population would be more fit? birds that have flatter beaks |
birds that have longer beaks |
A frog lays thousands of eggs because many eggs die. This behavior is an example of |
overproduction |
Consider this image of a gazelle. mc016-1.jpg Which of the gazelle's naturally selected traits is shown in this picture to be an evolutionary advantage? feeding only at certain times of the day |
coat color for blending in with dry grass |
Veronica wrote Charles Darwin's main points on the board, but she made a mistake in one point. 1. Since more offspring are produced than an environment can support, organisms within a population must compete for resources to survive. 2. Due to variations within the population, some competitors will be better equipped for survival than others. 3. The best-equipped organisms will survive and will produce well-equipped offspring. 4. Variations that help with survival will be passed on to future generations and will rapidly change the whole population. Which point is flawed as written above? point 1 |
point 4 |
Charles Darwin observed a unique beak size and shape in the finch population of each of the Galapagos Islands that he visited. mc003-1.jpg Which is the most likely cause of the observed variation? differences in the climate among the islands |
competition among individuals for available food sources |
Which would least likely be a cause of natural selection? adaptation |
NOT overpopulation NOT variation |
Which statement describes natural selection? It is the primary mechanism for evolution. |
It is the primary mechanism for evolution. |
Koalas are marsupials that are found in eastern Australia. Although their ancestors lived mostly on the ground, modern koalas spend most of their time in eucalyptus trees. This is possible because their hands and feet have strong claws and opposable digits. mc018-1.jpg What other adaptation could have helped koalas as they evolved from land dwellers to tree dwellers? the ability to have several offspring at one time |
fur color that closely matches the eucalyptus bark color |
During a trip to the Galapagos Islands, which observation led Charles Darwin to suspect that organisms change over time? Island finches were able to breed with mainland species. |
NOT Island finches did not have beaks of the same size and shape. |
In the African savanna, more wildebeests are born than the environment can support. Which is most likely to happen over a period of years as a result? The chances for survival of the population are reduced. |
Individuals that are well suited to the environment reproduce, and those that have lesser adaptations die before they reproduce. |
Scientific investigations often lead to the formulation of new scientific questions. The observations Charles Darwin made during his time aboard the H.M.S. Beagle prompted him to ask which question? Do living organisms change over time and, if so, how? |
Do living organisms change over time and, if so, how? |
Which best describes the relationship between evolution and natural selection? Natural selection leads to evolution. |
Natural selection leads to evolution. |
Which statement would least likely be used to describe variation? Variations are inherited differences between individuals of the same species. |
Variations that decrease reproductive success are more likely to be passed on. |
What is natural selection? a process that selects variations that help with survival and that spreads the variations to more offspring |
a process that selects variations that help with survival and that spreads the variations to more offspring |