Lecture 1

Question 1

What is Ecology (Sher & Molles.): the branch of science…

Answer 1

dedicated to the study of relationships between organisms and the environment

Question 2

Choose the one answer that best reflects how an evolutionary biologist would answer. Finches on the Galapagos islands require food to eat and water to drink…
a) When food and water are scarce, some birds may be unable to obtain what they need to survive
b) When food and water are limited, the finches will find other food sources, so there is always enough
c) When food and water are scarce, the finches all eat and drink less so that all birds survive.
d) There is always plenty of food and water on the Galapagos Islands to meet the finches’ needs

Answer 2

a) When food and water are scarce, some birds may be unable to obtain what they need to survive

Question 3

Choose the one answer that best reflects how an evolutionary biologist would answer. In a finch population, what are the primary changes that occur gradually over time?
a) The traits of each finch within a population gradually change
b) The proportions of finches having different traits within a population change
c) Successful behaviours learned by finches are passed to offspring
d) Mutations occur to meet the needs of the finches

Answer 3

b) The proportions of finches having different traits within a population change

Question 4

How did the different beak types first arise in the Galapagos finches?
a) The changes in the finches beak size and shape occurred because their need to be able to eat different kinds of food to survive
b) Changes in the finches beaks occurred by chance, and when there was a good match between beak structure and available food, those birds had more offspring
c) The changes in the finches beaks occured because the environment induced the desired genetics changes
d) The finches beaks changes a little bit in size and shape woth each successive generation, some getting larger and some getting smaller

Answer 4

b) Changes in the finches beaks occurred by chance, and when there was a good match between beak structure and available food, those birds had more offspring