1. Explain how this lab simulated the following concepts of natural selection. a. variation b. competition for resources c.

adaptation d. selecting agent a.) variation -- their were different tools with different types of grasping jaws b.) competition for resources -- some tools "beaks" were able to grasp the seeds they were competing for better than other "beaks" c.) adaptation -- some tools were better suited to pick up the seeds they were competing for than others because of their shape or size d.) selecting agent -- the size of the seed acted as a selecting agent for which beaks lived (gained 13 seeds or more) or died (did not) as it was the factor that determined which variation of tool/beak lived or died 2. How could finches have such different beaks yet come from the same ancestor? There may have been a number of different variations which resulted from reproduction of several generations of the common ancestor. As the Galapagos Islands contained a number of different environment with different niches, these different niches imposed different selective pressures on the finches making certain variations more suited for survival in a particular environment, and less suited for survival in a different environment. 3. List a specific trait "the finch" in this lab possessed and discuss its adaptive value. Some traits possessed by the grasping tools (ie. wide jaws) allowed the individual possessing the trait to obtain more food/seeds. This adaptation would tend to make it more likely an individual would live in nature. 4. Describe the role of the environment as a selecting agent. The original finch may have had offspring which showed small genetic changes over time. (Mutation and crossing over are some sources of these changes.) These changes may have allowed different variations of these finch offspring to be more successful in different environments. The filling of the different environments on the Galapagos Islands with slightly different variations of finches over time may have occurred as a result of this. (This process is called adaptive radiation.) 5. Name two traits of finches other than beak characteristics. The original finch may have had offspring which showed small genetic changes over time. (Mutation and crossing over are some sources of these changes.) These changes may have allowed different variations of these finch offspring to be more successful in different environments. The filling of the different environments on the Galapagos Islands with slightly different variations of finches over time may have occurred as a result of this. (This process is called adaptive radiation.)

Read the following paragraph and use the diagram below to answer the questions which follow below. The medium ground finch is found on several of the Galapagos Islands. This species of bird prefers to eat small seeds, which are easier to eat than large seeds. However, when food is scarce, such as during a drought, some of the small ground finches can eat larger seeds. The ability to eat larger seeds is inherited. The birds with thicker beaks crush seeds more easily. Medium ground finches are least likely to be found on islands with large producer populations, species of large ground finches, more variation in seed size, and abundant rainfall. Adaptations of Galapagos Island Finches (adapted from Galapagos: A Natural History Guide)

6. Describe changes that would occur in the ground finch population during a long period of drought when food is scarce. The ground finch population would massively decrease in numbers, as they eat mainly plant food. Most/all of this plant food would disappear as a result of the long severe drought. 7. Explain how this set of changes is an example of natural selection. Some variations of finches would be better adapted to get the little plant food remaining than the ground finches. As a result there would be competition and the variation best

adapted for survival would live on. The ground finches would probably die out. 8. State one difference between the beaks of small ground finches and beaks of small tree finches. Small ground finches have crushing bills, while small tree finches have grasping bills 9. Would you expect the small ground finches and small tree finches to compete for food on the island? Support your answer with evidence. I would expect little or no competition for food between small ground finches and small tree finches. Small ground finches eat mainly plant food, while small tree finches eat mainly animal food. 10. Explain how the island could support a large population of both large ground finches and small ground finches. If the Island had plentiful food supplies and the small and large ground finches ate slightly different plant foods (they occupied slightly different niches) they could easily both survive and be successful on the Island. (In our in class "beak" competition, sometimes different tools both obtained enough food at the same dish.) 11. How is the beak of the cactus finch adapted to its feeding habits? The cactus finch has a long probing bill which allows it to reach into the cactus to obtain food without hurting its head on the spines/needles of the cactus. 12. Which finch species is least likely to survive a severe drought that reduces the animal population on the island? Support your answer with an explanation. As the warbler finch eats 100% animal food according to the pie graph, it could not survive a severe drought that would wipe out all the animal population. This finch would starve to death as it could not obtain animal food. 13. Explain how the "beaks of finches lab" completed in your class displays the Theory of Natural Selection. (or survival of the fittest) The best adapted variations of the finches (or eating tools) could obtain sufficient food and thus could survive. The surviving finches could live to reproduce offspring with their more suitable genes for the environment another day! 14. What examples of adaptations were evident in the finches of the Galapagos Island? Different beak shapes and sizes, different adaptations for flying, different sizes of birds 15. Describe two factors that can limit the amount of competition between species in a given area.

Some factors which could limit competition would include feeding on a different food source in an area, or feeding in different parts of the same area. The New England warbler feeding at different levels of the same tree would provide an example of this.

16. Describe the most successful beak shape for eating small seeds. Small, sharp bills appear better adapted for grasping small seeds 17. How does the environment act as a selecting agent on the original island? Many possible answers exist for this question. The amount of precipitation, temperature, and soil characteristics will determine the kinds of plants and/or animals which live on an Island. For example, if the only kinds of plants which grow are plants with large thick coated seeds, then the finches lacking beaks for dealing with cracking and eating these kinds of seeds would not be adapted for the situation and would die from lack of food. Those birds possessing these beaks would live. In this case, the large thick seeds would act as a selecting agent in this population. 18. Describe a disaster (natural or manmade) that could affect an ecosystem. Then describe 3 ways that this disaster would affect the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Once again, many possible answers could be listed. One possibility would be a forest fire which would kill many plants and animals. This would eliminate many plants which some animals would depend upon for food, so the animals would die. The immediate effect of this would be to decrease biodiversity. This situation would create an improved environment for some plants however. An example is the lodgepole pine, which actually requires fire to release its seeds. The fire would also allow a succession of plants to occur which would allow the area to repopulate. As either of these events occurred, the biodiversity of the burned over area would actually increase. Use the evolutionary tree below to answer the questions 19 & 20.

19. Which two organisms are more closely related? Explain

The finches which eat buds/fruit and leaves have the same common ancestor finch which eats seeds, so it is probable that these finches are most closely related. 20. Which finch is the common ancestor to the finch that eats fruit and the finch that eats insects? The Tool Using Finch is the common ancestor to both of these.

21. In the past, a specific antibiotic was effective in killing a certain species of bacteria. Now, most members of this bacterial species are resistant to this antibiotic. Explain how this species of bacteria has become resistant. Your answer must include at least the concepts of: overproduction [1] variation [1] natural selection [1] adaptation to the environment [1] A four-part response is required that must include the following concepts: A description of overproduction in a naturally occurring species [1] A description of the concept of genetic variation within a naturally occurring species [1] A description of the theory of natural selection as it perpetuates favorable variation within species populations [1] A description of how variant members of a species population adapt to their environment [1] An example of an acceptable 4 part response As a result of their rapid rate of reproduction, more bacteria than can possibly survive (overproduction) were produced. [1] Because of genetic differences (variation), some bacteria had genes making them resistant to the antibiotic and so were better adapted to an environment containing the antibiotic. [1] They were the ones most likely to survive and produce the next generation (natural selection). [1] Over several generations, a greater percentage of the population became resistant (adaptation to the environment). [1] 22. Explain how the loss of biodiversity relates to the following:

state how humans have caused the problem you selected [1] describe one specific effect that the problem you selected will have on the ecosystem [1] state one specific action humans could take to reduce the problem you selected [1]

Multiple Choice Section Some possible answers include: -- Cause-overhunting; habitat destruction; single-crop planting -- Effect-unstable ecosystem; loss of sources for new medicines -- Action-enforce game laws; habitat rehabilitation; crop rotation 23. Darwin's studies of finches on the Galapagos Islands suggest that the finches' differences in beak structure were most directly due to (1.) acquired characteristics in the parent finches (2.) mating behaviors of the different finch species (3.) the size of the island where the finches live (4.) adaptations of the finches to different environments 24. Base your answer on the given information and statement. Information: The Galapagos Islands in the Pacific were probably never connected to South America. However, in the various habitats on the islands, there are about 14 species of finch-like birds that appear to be related to the finches on the South American mainland. Although the Galapagos finches vary in beak structure, there is a close resemblance between these species in plumage, calls, nests, and eggs. These species do not interbreed and do not compete for food. Statement: Isolation from the South American mainland and different habitats on the Galapagos Islands are important factors in the production of new species. (1.) The statement is supported by the information given. (2.) The statement is contradicted by the information given. (3.) The statement is not supported by the information given. (4.) No relevant information is given regarding the statement. 25. Which situation would most likely result in the highest rate of natural selection? (1.) reproduction of organisms by an asexual method in an unchanging environment (2.) reproduction of organisms in an unchanging environment with little competition and few predators (3.) reproduction of a species having a very low mutation rate in a changing environment (4.) reproduction of organisms exhibiting genetic differences due to mutations and genetic recombination in a changing environment