How can there be so many similarities among organisms yet so many different kinds of plants, animals, and microorganisms? Evolution of Life: Natural Selection & Biological Evolution
Natural Selection AP Bio. Enduring Understanding 1.A. Change in the genetic makeup of a population over time is evolution. / Bio.3.4 Explain the theory of evolution by natural selection as a mechanism of change over time in species. / Bio.3.4 Explain the theory of evolution by natural selection as a mechanism for how species change over time. / Bio.3.2 Understand how the environment, and/or the interaction of alleles, influences the expression of genetic traits.
1.A.4: Biological evolution is supported by scientific evidence from many disciplines, including mathematics.
In a hypothetical population of beetles, there is a wide variety of color, matching the range of coloration of the tree trunks on which the beetles hide from predators. The graphs below illustrate four possible changes to the beetle population as a result of a change in the environment due to pollution that darkened the tree trunks.
Which of the following includes the most likely change in the coloration of the beetle population after pollution and a correct rationale for the change?
(See attached item.) / Bio.3.4.1
Scientist often study fossil records to learn about species that lived long ago. Which is true about living species and extinct species that scientists may observe in fossil records?
a.If a species living today and an extinct species have many similarities, they could share a common ancestor, but if they have few similarities they could not share a common ancestor.
b.A species living today and an extinct species could share a common ancestor that lived a very long time ago, even if the two species have few similarities.
c.No species living today could share a common ancestor with an extinct species.
d.Species living today could share a common ancestor with each other, but extinct species could not share a common ancestor with each other because extinct species are the ancestors of species living today, never of each other
What other evidence would scientist most likely use to support this claim? / Bio.3.4.2 During the Industrial Revolution, there were two variations of English Peppered Moths, those with light color and those with dark color. The soot from the factories covered the trees. Data was collected to measure the percentage of each type of moth in the area. It was noted that the percentage of dark-colored moths increased over time, while the percentage of light-colored moths decreased. What is the likely explanation for this change?
a.The presence of a mutation changed the color of the English Peppered Moths.
b.The presence of the dark-colored variation increased the likelihood for survival of the English Peppered Moths.
c.The presence of the light-colored variation increased the likelihood for survival of the English Peppered Moths.
d.The presence of an acquired trait changed the color of the English Peppered Moths. / Bio.3.2.3 A population is a group of individuals of the same species. Could a population living today differ from their ancestors from many generations ago? Why or why not?
a.Yes, they could differ after many generations because an environmental change can cause individuals in each generation to try to change some of their inherited traits to ones that are better suited to the new environment.
b.Yes, they could differ after many generations because an environmental change can affect which inherited traits are most helpful, and therefore which individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce.
c.Yes, they could differ after many generations because an environmental change can cause individuals to use some of their inherited traits more than before and pass down better versions of those traits to their offspring.
d.No, they could not differ after many generations because all members of a population are the same species and therefore have the same set of inherited traits.
Natural Selection
Bio. 2.1
1
2
3
Analyze the interdependent relationships of living organisms within their environments. / 8.L.4Understand the evolution of organisms and landforms based on evidence, theories and processes that impact the earth over time. / 8.L.3 Understand how organisms interact with and respond to the biotic and abiotic components of their environment. / 7.L2 Understand the relationship of the mechanisms of cellular reproduction, patterns of inheritance and external factors to potential variation among offspring.
A few years went by without much rain, and the only species of tree that survived had large seeds. Many generations later, almost all the birds had the slightly larger beaks. How is this best explained?
a.The birds with larger beaks were better at eating the large seeds than those with smaller beaks, so only the birds with larger beaks got enough food to survive, reproduce, and pass the trait of large beaks to the next generation.
b.The birds with smaller beaks had to work harder than those with larger beaks to crack open the large seeds. The more they used their beaks, the larger their beaks became, so they were able to get enough food to survive, reproduce, and pass the traits of large beaks to the next generation.
c.The birds with smaller beaks grew their beaks so that they would be better able to eat the large seeds and get enough food to survive, reproduce, and pass the trait of larger beaks to the next generation.
d.It was a chance occurrence that all the individual birds' beaks in the next generation were larger. They were therefore able to eat the large seeds and get enough food to survive, reproduce, and pass the trait of large beaks to the next generation. / 8.L.4.2The different species of Hawaiian honeycreepers now have different beaks, eat different foods, singdifferent songs, and live in different environments on the islands.
Two researchers wanted to see if they could observe natural selection at work. They decided to bring the birds to a new home. The new home they designed would have some of the characteristics of each of the birds’ old environment; however, some changes would be harsh and very different.
Which statement best predicts what will happen to the birds?
a. none of the birds will try to adapt to the change and all of the birds will die
b. some of the birds will be able to adapt to the change but some of the birds will die
c.all of the birds will be able to adapt to the change because they have a common ancestor
d. all of the birds will try to adapt to the change because they have a common ancestor / 8.L.3.1 Habitat Change Vol. 2 pg. 143
A small, short furred, gray animal called a divo lives on an island. This island is the only place on Earth where divos live. The island habitat is warm and provides plenty of the divos’ only food. – tree ants. The divos live high in the treetops, hidden from predators.
One year the habitat experienced a drastic change the lasted for most of the year. It became very cold and even snowed. All of the ants died. The trees lost their leaves, but plenty of seeds and dried leaves were on the ground.
Circle any of the things you think happened to most of the divos living on the island after their habitat changed.
a. The divos’ fur grew longer and thicker.
b. The divos switched to eating seeds.
c. The divos dug holes to live under the leaves or beneath the rocks.
d. The divos hibernated through the cold period until the habitat was warm again.
e. The divos died.
Explain your thinking. How did you decide what effect the change in the habitat would have on most of the divos? / The Pima Indians of Arizona are the descendants of Pima Indians who reside in the Sierra Madre mountains of Northern Mexico. Today 50% of the Arizona Pima have diabetes compared to less than 1% for those living in the Sierra Madre mountains.
Which factor, environment, inheritance or lifestyle choice, do you think is most responsible for this comparison? Explain your choice and provide evidence to support your choice.
Natural Selection
6.L.2 Understand the flow of energy through ecosystems and the responses of populations to the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment. / 6.L.2 Understand the flow of energy through ecosystems and the responses of populations to the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment. / 5.L.3 Understand why organisms differ from or are similar to their parents based on the characteristics of the organism. / 4.L.1Understand the effects of environmental changes, adaptations and behaviors that enable animals (including humans) to survive in changing habitats.
6.L.2.3 Which gas(es) do plants take in from their environments? (you may circle more than one)
oxygen carbon dioxide other
Explain what happens to the gases once they are inside the plant.
Why do large trees have a difficult time living in a Tundra?
- A Tundra is too hot for trees to grow large.
- Animals that live in a Tundra destroy most vegetation.
- Flooding occurs too often in a Tundra for large trees to grow.
- The soil in a Tundra is too nutrient- poor for large trees to grow.*
(a) Grass
(b) Cows
(c) Human beings
(d) Decomposing bacteria
(e) Soil
(f) Energy from the sun
(g) Carbon dioxide
(h) Oxygen
6.L.2.1 A small acorn grows into a large oak tree.
(a) Which of the following is FOOD for plants (circle ALL correct answers)?
Soil Air Sunlight Fertilizer
Water Minerals in soil Sugar that plants make (b) Where do you think the plant’s increase in weight comes from? / 5.L.3.1 Sam’s dog had puppies. Three of the puppies were black and two were white. The father dog was black. The mother dog was white. Why are the dogs different colors?
a. Puppies inherit more traits (genes) from their fathers than their mothers.
b. The puppies got half their traits (genes) from their father and half from their mother.
c. Male traits (genes) are stronger than female genes.
d. Black puppies have more traits (genes) than white puppies.
Which friend do you most agree with and why? Explain your thinking about heredity.
A student moved his pet rabbits from sunny Florida to cold Alaska when they were all very small. Some of the rabbits have long ears, good for hearing, and some have short ears that help hold in heat. Once the rabbits were moved to Alaska what do you think happened to the rabbits that were born in Alaska.
a.All of the new rabbits will have short ears, because Alaska is very cold.
b.Most of the new rabbits will have long ears, because long ears are most fit for Alaska.
c. Some of the rabbits will have long ears and some will have short ears, because they will look like their parents.
d.All of the new rabbits will have short ears because only rabbits with short ears can survive in Alaska.
Which friend do you most agree with and why? Explain your ideas about heredity and adaptation. / 4.L.1.4 Scientists study a bird called a warbler, shown below, by placing small metal tags on the birds’ legs.
One kind of warbler with black-and-white feathers is often seen on tree trunks. Another kind with golden-colored feathers is often seen in fields. After a few years of extremely cold weather, the fields died off and only trees were available for shelter. Many generations later, scientists observed that almost all the warbler birds had black-and- white feathers and almost all the golden warblers were gone. How is this best explained?
Friend 1: “I think most of the warblers are black-and-white because the golden-colored warblers changed colors to hide from predators and survive.”
Friend 2: “I think most of the warblers are black-and-white because predators ate most of the golden-colored warblers.”
Friend 3: “I think most of the warblers are black-and-white because the golden-coloredwarblers died from the cold weather.”
Which friend do you most agree with and why? Explain your ideas about adaptation.
Natural Selection
3.L.2 Understand how plants survive in their environments. / 2.L.2.Remember that organisms differ from or are similar to their parents based on the characteristics of the organism. / 1.L.1Understand characteristics of various environments and behaviors of humans that enable plants and animals to survive. / K.L.1 Compare characteristics of animals that make them alike and different from other animals and nonliving things.
3.L.2.2 Four friends investigated four types of plants to determine which would be best to plant in their butterfly garden. This is what they each suggested:
Friend 1: “Sample A, because they produce lots of roots to absorb nutrients.”
Friend 2: “Sample B, because they produce colorful flowers to attract butterflies.”
Friend 3: “Sample C, because they grow very tall.”
Friend 4: “Sample D, because they have very large dark green leaves to make plenty of food.”
Which friend selected a characteristic that will most likely enable the plants to survive in the butterfly garden? Explain your choice. / 2.L.2.2 Jamie and Mary visit the zoo. They see two female tigers who are mother and daughter. Jamie points out that the fur of one of the tigers has stripes that are darker brown than the other tiger’s stripes. Mary says the tigers cannot be mother and daughter.
How can Jamie explain to Mary that tigers with different colored stripes can be mother and daughter? In your answer use a specific example of what you have observed about similarities and differences between individuals who are related. / 1. L.1.2Create a garden habitat that will attract and provide the basic needs for birds, butterflies and plants that are found in North Carolina. Research and plant appropriate flowers.
Have students research and draw habitats of similar plants and animals that are found in other parts of the world. Discuss differences and similarities (e.g., type of materials used to build each shelter) and explain how each environment enables the different plants and animals to survive.
Joey decided to create a garden habitat, exactly like the one from school, in his backyard except he would include plants and animals from other parts of the world as well as those from NC. Which plants and animals do you think will grow and survive best? Explain your selections. / K.L.1.2 The pictures below represent an owl, abutterfly and a statue of an owl. What do the owl and butterfly have in common and how are they different? How is a living owl similar to the statue and how are they different?
How can there be so many similarities among organisms yet so many different kinds of plants, animals, and microorganisms? Evolution of Life: Natural Selection & Biological Evolution
Multiple Choice Item
In a hypothetical population of beetles, there is a wide variety of color, matching the range of coloration of the tree trunks on which the beetles hide from predators. The graphs below illustrate four possible changes to the beetle population as a result of a change in the environment due to pollution that darkened the tree trunks.
Which of the following includes the most likely change in the coloration of the beetle population after pollution and a correct rationale for the change?
(A) The coloration range shifted toward more light-colored beetles, as in diagram I. The pollution helped the predators find the darkened tree trunks.
(B) The coloration in the population split into two extremes, as in diagram II. Both the lighter-colored and the darker-colored beetles were able to hide on the darker tree trunks.
(C) The coloration range became narrower, as in diagram III. The predators selected beetles at the color extremes.
(D) The coloration in the population shifted toward more darker- colored beetles, as in diagram IV. The lighter-colored beetles were found more easily by the predators than were the darker- colored beetles
Essential Knowledge / 1.A.4: Biological evolution is supported by scientific evidence from many disciplines, including mathematics.Science Practice / 1.1: The student can create representations and models of natural or man-made phenomena and systems in the domain.
Learning Objective / 1.13: The student is able to construct and/or justify mathematical models, diagrams, or simulations that represent processes of biological evolution.
2013 AP® BIOLOGY FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS