Bio quesitons

Bios 101 10:00 am lecture #17100, winter-spring 2014

Problem Set 3

1. (1 point) The theory of evolution by natural selection makes testable and potentially falsifiable predictions about slife on planet earth. State two of these predictions (one sentence each) and explain existing evidence for each. A short paragraph of evidence for each should suffice.

2. (1 point) Define sexual selection (1 sentence) and explain the mechanisms by which it operates (how it works). One or two sentences for each mechanism should suffice. Provide an example of each mode of sexual selection with actual animals.

3. (1 point) What is an evolutionary homology? Provide one or more examples to help explain the concept. Your answer should take no more than 4 or 5 sentences.

4. (1 point) Explain in no more than two paragraphs how mating systems emerge from a combination of the quantity and quality of available mates, and the dispersion of resources in time and/or space. If unclear, check the paper (cited in lecture) by Emlen and Oring that can be found in our documents folder on blackboard.

5. (1 point) In Evolutionary Game Theory, what is a strategy and what is the payoff? (What, biologically, are they? One sentence should be enough for each.) Illustrate each with an evolutionary game presented in lecture.

6. (1 point) Define: allopatry; sympatry. (One sentence each.) Why do many biologists argue that allopatric speciation is likely more common than sympatric speciation? Keep your answer to no more than 2 paragraphs.

7. (1 point) What are three ways that populations (within a species) can become reproductively (genetically) isolated from each other. (One sentence each.) Explain why reproductive isolation is important in the speciation process (few sentences sufficient).

8. (1 point) What are three factors that make a population of a species vulnerable to local extirpation. Explain how each operates to make the population vulnerable (One short paragraph should suffice.)

9. (1 point) From biogeographic theory developed in lecture, how do Biogeographical Provinces differ from Islands? (One short paragraph should suffice.)

10. (1 point) Pick one of the major nutrient cycles mentioned in lecture and the textbook. For that nutrient cycle, explain the major reservoir, the biological component of the cycle, and the non- biological component of the cycle. Keep your answer brief and to the point.