Biology · Science General

Evolution and Biological Adaptation

1,288 Questions

Evolution and biological adaptation focus on natural selection, speciation events, and how organisms adjust to environmental changes over time. These foundational biology concepts appear frequently in general science sections of civil services and school board examinations. Use these questions to study evolutionary theories, ancestral traits, and the fossil record.

Natural selection mechanismsSpeciation event examplesBiological adaptation traitsPanspermia hypothesis conceptsFossil record analysisMate selection theories

Evolution and Biological Adaptation Questions

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

In formulating the theory of evolution by natural selection, Charles Darwin was greatly influenced by

  1. environmental factors

  2. mutations

  3. Maithus idea on population control

  4. all of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Charles Darwin was influenced by many writers, scholars, philosophers, and friends. One of his influences was Thomas Robert Malthus, a late-eighteenth century economist. Malthus wrote "Essay on the Principle of Population" (1798), which Darwin read and was inspired by. The central theme of Malthus' work was that population growth would always overpower food supply growth, creating perpetual states of hunger, disease, and struggle. The natural, ever-present struggle for survival caught the attention of Darwin, and he extended Malthus' principle to the evolutionary scheme.

So, the correct answer is 'Maithus idea on population control'.
Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

The cluster of species formed on Galapagos islands are clear example of all, except

  1. Species formation arising by micro-evolutionary divergence from an ancestral form occupying different habitats, of microevolution leading to macro-evolution

  2. Founder's effect

  3. Adaptive radiation

  4. Sympatric speciation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Founder's effect is the loss of genetic variation when a new colony is formed by a very small number of individuals from a larger population. The finches of Galapagos Island are a perfect example of the founder effect.
The process, whereby species evolve rapidly to exploit empty ecospace, is known as adaptive radiation. There are now at least 13 species of finches on the Galapagos Islands, each filling a different niche on different islands and this is a good example of adaptive radiation.
Sympatric speciation occurs when there are no physical barriers preventing any members of a species from mating with another, and all members are in close proximity to one another which is an example of Galapagos island.
Thus, the correct answer is 'Species formation arising by micro-evolutionary divergence from an ancestral form occupying different habitats, of microevolution leading to macro-evolution'.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Darwin said that all the organisms reproduce ...........

  1. With mutations

  2. Uprightly

  3. Prolifically

  4. Independently
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Darwin concluded that organisms reproduce prolifically and in each generation the number of individual increases that can survive. The individuals show some phenotypic variations, and these variations are heritable. Darwin also suggested that the process of evolution is based on natural selection.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

According to Darwin, diversity is found in Australian marsupials is due to:

  1. Convergent evolution.

  2. Divergent evolution.

  3. Adaptive radiation.

  4. Co - evolution.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Adaptive radiation is the process where organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into a multitude of new forms, particularly when a change in the environment makes new resources available, as seen with Australian marsupials.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Which one cannot be explained by Darwinism?

  1. Over-specialisation

  2. Persistance of vestigal organs

  3. Occurrence of unchanged forms

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The key aspects of the theory of natural selection are rapid increase in population, struggle for existence resulting from limited food and space, Natural selection or survival of the fittest and elimination of the unfit and origin of new species. Darwinism fails to attribute the reasons for the existence of vestigial organs like vermiform appendix in human beings. These organs should have been eliminated during the progression of evolution because of its no use for long time. Another big limitation is the difference between heritable and non-heritable variations. Theory of natural selection fails to explain the origin of variation. Further, Darwin believed evolution is due to gradual variations. But in many instances, the occurrence of such variations are not of use for the struggle of existence. For example, the eye in the case of animals is functional only in a fully formed condition and all the features of the eye according to Darwin could not have come into existence at one step. It should have been by the collection of several mutations. But then each change by itself is of no advantage. Thus, the correct answer is 'All of the above.'

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

In postulating the theory of evolution by natural selection, Darwin was greatly influenced by 

  1. Mutation theory of Hugo de Vires

  2. Lamarck's theory of acquired characters

  3. Malthus idea of population control

  4. Environmental factors
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

One of his persuasions was Thomas Robert Malthus, a late-eighteenth-century financial analyst. Malthus stated is "Essay on the Principle of Population" (1798), which Darwin read and was roused.

So, the correct option is 'Malthus idea of population control'.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
Darwin believed that a giraffe has a long neck because

  1. God designed it that way

  2. catastrophes eliminated short-necked forms

  3. its ancestors stretched their necks to get food

  4. ancestral giraffes with slightly longer necks got more food than others and left more surviving offspring
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

According to Darwin theory, there is both long and short neck giraffe due variation in the population. when there is a shortage of short tree leaves, short neck giraffe died and long neck giraffe survive.

Hence, the correct answer is 'ancestral giraffes with slightly longer necks got more food than others and left more surviving offspring'

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Which of the following statements best explains the fact that 99.9% of all species that have ever existed on planet earth are now extinct?

  1. Climate changes associated with large comet or asteroid impacts occur faster than organisms can change themselves and adapt to the new environmental conditions.

  2. Genetic variations within a population occur through random mutations and given enough time, the environment will change in such a way that no existing genetic-based phenotypes permit survival.

  3. The accumulation of random mutations in the genome of all organisms eventually leads to frameshift mutations in critical genes and are ultimately lethal.

  4. The rapid increase in global temperatures in the past 100 years, combined with ocean acidification, heavy metal contamination, and ozone depletion caused by human activities have caused 99.9% of all of Earth's species to go extinct.

  5. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation
The extinction of species can occur due to various reasons, organisms not being able to adapt to changing climatic conditions, human activities, genetic mutations that did not favor the survival of the species
So, the correct answer is 'All of the above'
Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation biodiversity losses biodiversity loss and need for conservation environmental conservation and biodiversity

Scientists believe that the Hawaiian island chain as it currently exists was formed as sea-floor spreading caused the Earth's crust to slowly move over a stationary point of volcanic activity in the mantle of the Earth.
While above the area of activity, volcanic eruptions formed the islands, and as sea-floor spreading moved the newly formed island off the area of activity, other new islands formed leading to the seven islands that now exist. The largest island in the chain is the only one that is currently volcanically active, suggesting that it is still above the active region on the mantel.
If this is true, which of the following should be observed?

  1. Species on the largest island will be more closely related to those of more distant islands than to those of closer islands.

  2. The largest island will have an extensive fossil record.

  3. The largest island should have less biodiversity than the other islands.

  4. Evidence of adaptive radiation should be most observable on the oldest of the seven islands.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
The island that is volcanically active will not have organisms inhabiting the area, those that may inhabit will burnt or turned into ashes so, there are no chances of having a fossil record. However due to periodic volcanic activity the island will have reduced biodiversity
So, the correct answer is 'The largest island should have less biodiversity than the other islands'
Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a scientific theory that has been used to support the argument for intelligent design?

  1. The theory of evolution

  2. The theory of relativity

  3. The Big Bang theory

  4. The fine-tuning argument
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The fine-tuning argument is a teleological argument that claims that the universe is fine-tuned for life, which suggests the existence of a designer.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the process by which species adapt to new environments?

  1. Evolution

  2. Adaptation

  3. Natural selection

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Evolution, adaptation, and natural selection are all terms that describe the process by which species adapt to new environments.

Multiple choice

The concept of "ecological release" refers to the:

  1. Process by which species adapt to new environments after a mass extinction event

  2. Process by which species expand their ranges after a mass extinction event

  3. Process by which species diversify into new forms after a mass extinction event

  4. Process by which species go extinct after a mass extinction event
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Ecological release refers to the process by which species expand their ranges and occupy new ecological niches after a mass extinction event.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process of a plant or animal adapting to its environment?

  1. Adaptation

  2. Evolution

  3. Natural Selection

  4. Genetic Drift
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Adaptation is the process by which a plant or animal develops traits that help it survive and reproduce in its specific environment. These traits can be physical, behavioral, or physiological.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process of an organism changing its behavior in response to its environment?

  1. Adaptation

  2. Evolution

  3. Natural Selection

  4. Behavioral Ecology
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Behavioral ecology is the study of how an organism's behavior is influenced by its environment, including interactions with other organisms and the physical and social factors that shape its behavior.