All AP Environmental Science Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Evolution
Which statement is true about genetic drift?
Genetic drift occurs only in animals.
Genetic drift is completely random.
Genetic drift occurs only in producers
Genetic drift is a process created by humankind.
Genetic drift occurs only in eukaryotes.
Genetic drift is completely random.
The correct response is: genetic drift is completely random. It is a natural process that occurs at random and has profound impacts on species. Thus, genetic drift was not created by humans - it's a natural process. Genetic drift occurs in life forms, from the prokaryotes to the eukaryotes. And genetic drift occurs in all living organisms: plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi.
Example Question #4 : Evolution
The diversification of the finches on the Galapagos Islands from a single founding species into many different species in different ecological niches is an example of __________.
sympatric speciation
adaptive radiation
allopatric speciation
peripatric speciation
parapatric speciation
adaptive radiation
Because the Galapagos Islands cover a small area and have many ecological niches available, the evolution of Darwin's finches is best explained as adaptive radiation. Adaptive radiation refers to growing specialization between different types of the same species until they finally become different species, as with the small vs the large-beaked finches on the Galapagos, which eat different seeds.
Example Question #201 : Ap Environmental Sciences
Which two ecologists developed the Theory of Island Biogeography?
Aldo Leopold and Robert MacArthur
Robert MacArthur and E. O. Wilson
Charles Darwin and Aldo Leopold
Rachel Carson and Robert MacArthur
E. O. Wilson and G. Evelyn Hutchinson
Robert MacArthur and E. O. Wilson
Together in the 1960's, MacArthur and Wilson coined the term "Island Biogeography" within the field of Insular Biogeography. This is a theory that attempts to predict the number of species existing on an island, whether a literal island, or simply a habitat isolated from like habitats by an "ocean" of unlike habitats.
Example Question #1 : Natural Selection
Preserving genes that help organisms flourish in their environment is the definition of which of the following?
Genetic equilibrium
Adaptations
Natural selection
Variability
Assortive mating
Natural selection
Natural selection is the process by which the organisms with the highest fitness survive and reproduce. Not all organisms reproduce at the same rate; some are better suited for the environment in which they live than others. This suitability is often described using the concept of Darwinian fitness, which is the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce, therefore passing on its genes to its progeny.
As an example of natural selection in action, consider the case of the Peppered Moth in England around the time of the Industrial Revolution. Before the Industrial Revolution, Peppered Moth populations were primarily composed of white-colored moths, with dark-colored moths representing only a small fraction of the population. This is because the trees the moths often rested on were white in color, allowing white-colored moths effective camoflauge but making the dark-colored moths obvious to predators. So, the dark-colored moths got eaten more often and did not survive to reproduce and pass on their genes to progeny; the white-colored moths did. During the Industrial Revolution, the smog and air pollution produced turned the bark of certain trees to a darker color. Now, the dark-colored moths were effectively camoflaged, but the white-colored moths stuck out to predators. More dark-colored moths survived (e.g. weren't eaten) than white-colored moths because of this environmental change, and so the moth population over time came to be composed of primarily dark-colored moths, with a small fraction of white-colored moths. This anecdote demonstrates the process of natural selection and how fitness can be influenced by environmental changes.
Example Question #1 : Natural Selection
"Survival of the fittest" is often used to describe Darwin's theory of natural selection; however, which of the following choices better describes the theory of adaptation by natural selection?
"Survival of the most adaptable"
None of these
"Survival of the most impressive"
"Survival of the biggest"
"Survival of the most adaptable"
Individuals that are "fit" in regard to natural selection does not refer to strength or one particular trait. Rather, it refers to an organism’s adaptability to their environment, which allows them to survive and reproduce. Successful reproductive events pass on genes, traits, and adaptations to future generations of the species.
Example Question #2 : Natural Selection
Which of the following is an example of an initial step associated with natural selection?
None of these
All of these
Ash from the industrial revolution darkens the tree trunks in a moth species' habitat, the dark moths are favored and light moth populations are reduced.
An ancient, short-necked giraffe stretches its neck to reach higher leaves and its offspring inherit a long neck.
A Chihuahua breeder singles out the smallest individuals from each litter of puppies and breeds them together to produce smaller puppies.
Ash from the industrial revolution darkens the tree trunks in a moth species' habitat, the dark moths are favored and light moth populations are reduced.
One of the initial steps towards natural selection is environmental change that selects for or against a particular trait in a species (e.g. ash darkening habitats selects for darker colored moths). Over time, as the ash continues to color the moths' habitat, the light moths—being more visible to predators—will die out. As a result their reproductive success will be reduced and the darker moths will be more likely to reproduce and pass on their traits.
Example Question #3 : Natural Selection
A new predator, the red-tailed hawk has been introduced to a meadow ecosystem with several rodent species with varying behaviors and characteristics. Hawks hunt by day, swooping down into areas without dense foliage and grabbing their prey by surprise. Which species are most likely to decline by introducing this top predator?
Gophers that burrow underground and forage for roots and insects.
Shrews that forage for seeds and insects in wooded areas under leaf litter.
Brown Rats that much prefer foraging in dumpsters and other human sources of food than foraging in the wild.
Voles that forage for seeds during the daytime in fields and meadows.
Field mice that are nocturnal and forage for seeds in open meadows.
Voles that forage for seeds during the daytime in fields and meadows.
Since voles not only forage in open grassland and meadows where hawks hunt their prey, they also forage during daylight hours, when hawks are most active. Therefore, the vole population is most likely of all the rodent species to see a significant decline.
Example Question #4 : Natural Selection
Evolution occurs through a process called natural selection.
What are the four premises or observations of natural selection?
Populations, inherited variation, rapid population growth, and differential reproductive success
High reproductive rate, inherited variation, mutation, and differential reproductive success
High reproductive rate, adaptation, rapid population growth, and differential reproductive success
High reproductive rate, inherited variation, rapid population growth, and differential reproductive success
High reproductive rate, inherited variation, rapid population growth, and modern sythesis
High reproductive rate, inherited variation, rapid population growth, and differential reproductive success
Adaptation, modern synthesis, and mutation are all part of evolution through natural process. Adaptation is the process of inheritable traits being carried from one generation to the next. Modern synthesis is the combining of Darwin's theory of evolution with modern principles of genetics. Mutations are changes in genes and are part of the modern synthesis.
Example Question #5 : Natural Selection
What two factors determine biological fitness?
Allele frequency and genetic diversity
Genetic diversity and age of first reproduction
Genetic diversity and population size
Survival and size
Survival and reproductive rate
Survival and reproductive rate
The correct response is survival and reproductive rate. These are the two factors that are used to determine the fitness of an individual. There are other variables that can impact survival and reproduction rate, but these are the two foundational factors that impact fitness.
Fitness = Rate of Survival times Rate of Reproduction
Thus, if an individual lives to be 100 years old but has 0 children, then their overall fitness is 0. (Fitness = 100 x 0 = 0)
Example Question #2 : Natural Selection
What is the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment?
Haploid
Nomenclature
Genotype
Phenotype
Phenotype
The phenotype is described as the observable characteristics of an organism. Natural selection is based on survival of the fittest due to differences in phenotype. This is not to be confused with genotype, which is the genetic (DNA sequence) of a trait.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor