Textbook Question
What important assumption does parsimony make when assessing which phylogenetic tree is most accurate? Why was parsimony misleading in the case of the astragalus during the evolution of artiodactyls?
Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 25, Problem 3
Which of the following best characterizes an adaptive radiation?
a. Descendant species occupy a large geographic area.
b. A single lineage diversifies rapidly, and descendant species occupy many habitats and ecological roles.
c. Natural selection is particularly intense, because disruptive selection occurs.
d. Species recover after a mass extinction.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of adaptive radiation: Adaptive radiation is an evolutionary process where a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into a variety of new forms. This typically occurs when the species encounters a new environment with diverse ecological niches.
Identify the key characteristics of adaptive radiation: It involves rapid diversification, and the resulting species occupy different habitats and ecological roles. This is often seen in environments with little competition, such as islands or after a mass extinction event.
Analyze each option: a) Descendant species occupy a large geographic area - This does not necessarily imply rapid diversification or occupation of different ecological roles. b) A single lineage diversifies rapidly, and descendant species occupy many habitats and ecological roles - This directly describes the process of adaptive radiation. c) Natural selection is particularly intense, because disruptive selection occurs - While natural selection can be a factor, it does not specifically define adaptive radiation. d) Species recover after a mass extinction - This can lead to adaptive radiation, but it is not a defining characteristic.
Compare the options to the definition: Option b aligns most closely with the definition of adaptive radiation, as it emphasizes rapid diversification and occupation of various ecological niches.
Conclude by selecting the best characterization: Based on the analysis, option b best characterizes an adaptive radiation.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Adaptive Radiation
Adaptive radiation refers to the rapid evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor when introduced to new environments. This process often occurs when a species encounters varied ecological niches, leading to the development of distinct traits that allow them to exploit different habitats and roles within an ecosystem.
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05:24
Adaptive Radiation
Ecological Niches
An ecological niche is the role and position a species has in its environment, including how it obtains resources, interacts with other organisms, and contributes to the ecosystem. Understanding niches is crucial in adaptive radiation, as species diversify to fill different niches, reducing competition and increasing survival chances.
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Guided course
02:48Ecological Niches and Competition
Disruptive Selection
Disruptive selection is a type of natural selection that favors extreme values of a trait over intermediate values, leading to increased genetic diversity within a population. While it can drive speciation, it is not the primary mechanism in adaptive radiation, which is more about diversification into new ecological roles rather than just trait variation.
Recommended video:
04:43Natural Selection
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following is an example of homoplasy?
a. Hair in humans and fur in mice
b. Astragalus ankle bones in hippos and deer
c. Hox genes in humans and flies
d. Streamlined bodies in dolphins and ichthyosaurs
Textbook Question
Critique the following statement: The absence of a trait cannot be used as a synapomorphy in phylogenetic analysis; only shared derived traits that are present in the clade can be used.
Textbook Question
Choose the best definition of a fossil.
a. A rock that contains information about an organism
b. A bone, tooth, shell, or other hard part of an organism that has been preserved
c. Any trace of an organism that lived in the past
d. Any part of a dead organism
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Textbook Question
You can use a 'one-snip test' to identify monophyletic groups—meaning that if you 'cut' any branch on a tree, everything that 'falls off' is a monophyletic group. Why is this valid?