CHAPTER 23—PALEOBIOLOGY AND MACROEVOLUTION
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The first dinosaurs, leading to the first public dinosaur craze, were discovered in
a.
England
b.
Australia
c.
South America
d.
Africa
e.
China
2. Which of the following is NOT a known characteristic of any dinosaurs?
a.
bright coloration
b.
bipedal posture
c.
feathers
d.
gills for breathing underwater
e.
posture with heads upright and tails off the ground
3. If we are analyzing the origin of new families, orders, etc. over time, we are studying
a.
microevolution
b.
mutation
c.
macroevolution
d.
natural selection
e.
anagenesis
4. The era during which the earliest signs of life appeared was the
a.
Archean
b.
Paleozoic
c.
Mesozoic
d.
Cambrian
e.
Cenozoic
5. If the entire history of the earth is symbolized by a 12-month calendar, dinosaurs and mammals both
appeared in the month of
a.
August
b.
September
c.
October
d.
November
e.
December
6. Dinosaurs flourished during the
a.
Archaean
b.
Paleozoic
c.
Mesozoic
d.
Cambrian
e.
Cenozoic
7. The radioactive decay of carbon-14 can be used to determine
a.
relative dating.
b.
absolute dating.
c.
mutation rates.
d.
plate tectonics.
e.
extinction rates.
8. The Cretaceous is the period in which
a.
mammals diversified and flourished.
b.
life appeared on this planet.
c.
the first animals with shells and skeletons appeared.
d.
the dinosaurs reached their peak and then became extinct.
e.
the first human-like apes appeared.
9. Fossils are found only in
a.
metamorphic rocks.
b.
igneous rocks.
c.
sedimentary rocks.
d.
crystalline rocks.
e.
radioactive rocks.
10. A paleontologist estimates that when a particular rock formed, it contained 12 mg of the radioactive
isotope potassium-40, which has a half-life of 1.3 billion years. The rock now contains 3 mg of the
isotope. About how old is the rock?
a.
2.6 billion years
b.
5.2 billion years
c.
1.3 billion years
d.
0.3 billion years
e.
0.4 billion years
11. The oldest of the Eras that make up the geological time scale is the
a.
Hadean.
b.
Paleozoic.
c.
Mesozoic.
d.
Cenozoic.
e.
Jurassic.
12. The time interval used in measuring the age of rocks is called
a.
radioisotope unit.
b.
radiometric unit.
c.
radiometric life.
d.
radioisotope life.
e.
half-life.
13. Most dinosaurs became extinct
a.
10,000 years ago.
b.
1 million years ago.
c.
500 million years ago.
d.
65 million years ago.
e.
1 billion years ago.
14. Mammals underwent an evolutionary “explosion” or major adaptive radiation in the
a.
Mesozoic.
b.
Cambrian.
c.
Triassic.
d.
Devonian.
e.
Cenozoic.
15. Most dinosaurs died out at the end of the
a.
Triassic.
b.
Jurassic.
c.
Cretaceous.
d.
Tertiary.
e.
Permian.
16. Which group of animals represents the surviving dinosaurs?
a.
birds
b.
crocodiles and alligators
c.
snakes and lizards
d.
turtles
e.
mammals
17. The age that saw a great diversification of land plants, as well as the first amphibians, was the
a.
Cambrian.
b.
Cretaceous.
c.
Devonian.
d.
Jurassic.
e.
Ordovician.
18. Over time, the carbon isotope 14C decays into
a.
12C.
b.
14N.
c.
12N.
d.
13C.
e.
12B.
19. Radiometric dating works best with
a.
sedimentary rocks.
b.
limestone.
c.
metamorphic rock.
d.
volcanic rocks.
e.
meteorites.
20. Wood and bone fragments found intact in sediments can be accurately aged using
a.
Thorium-232.
b.
Uranium-238.
c.
Uranium-235.
d.
Potassium-40.
e.
Carbon-14.
21. Because of continental drift, dinosaurs during the Jurassic Period were able to migrate freely from
a.
Africa to Europe.
b.
Antarctica to Asia.
c.
Australia to Asia.
d.
South America to North America.
e.
South America to Africa.
22. When all continents were fused into one during the Permian Period, they were called
a.
Laurasia.
b.
Pangaea.
c.
Gondwanaland.
d.
Eurasia.
e.
Amerasia.
23. Australia, Antarctica, and South America represent fragments of
a.
Australasia.
b.
Laurasia.
c.
Gondwanaland.
d.
Eurasia.
e.
Amerasia.
24. Oceanic ridges form
a.
along oceanic trenches.
b.
where shallow seas dry up.
c.
in zones of rising magma.
d.
where old oceanic crust sinks below continental crust.
e.
where two continents collide.
25. According to Wallace’s biogeographical realms, North America belongs primarily to the
a.
Neotropical.
b.
Ethiopian.
c.
Palearctic.
d.
Nearctic.
e.
Oriental.
26. If we were to discover beings on a distant planet that looked very much like us, it would probably be
cited as an example of
a.
coincidence.
b.
convergent evolution.
c.
homology.
d.
adaptive radiation.
e.
genetic drift.
27. Australia and Eurasia each have a mouse-like mammal, one a marsupial, the other a placental. This is
an example of
a.
long-distance migration.
b.
homology.
c.
adaptive radiation.
d.
convergent evolution.
e.
coincidence.
28. A species that is confined to a specific, relatively small geographic area is called
a.
endemic.
b.
allopatric.
c.
sympatric.
d.
autopolyploid.
e.
polymorphic.
29. The most severe mass extinction on earth occurred at the end of the
a.
Cambrian
b.
Carboniferous
c.
Jurassic
d.
Permian
e.
Devonian
30. A single seed lands on one of a group of isolated islands. Several million years later, its descendants
have evolved into a number of new species on the different islands, representing a variety of trees,
shrubs, and vines. At that point in time, we have an example of
a.
adaptive radiation.
b.
punctuated equilibrium.
c.
genetic drift.
d.
microevolution.
e.
mutation.
31. Adaptive radiation is
a.
the basis of radiometric dating.
b.
development of similar body form in unrelated organisms.
c.
formation of beneficial alleles through exposure to radiation.
d.
origin of many species from a single common ancestor.
e.
spread of successful alleles from one population to another.
32. The fourteen species of finch native to the Galapagos Islands
a.
were victims of a mass extinction there
b.
evolved from a single common ancestor
c.
migrated in waves from South America
d.
evolved after a mass extinction of birds that previously lived in the islands
e.
were victims of a mass extinction there
33. The “sixth mass extinction” refers to
a.
the end of the dinosaur era
b.
the rise of predators during the Cambrian period
c.
what will happen to the human species after a nuclear war
d.
the rapid loss of biodiversity due to degradation of the environment by humans
e.
what happened when insects evolved on land
34. Which is a likely result of a mass extinction?
a.
create “empty niche space” that can stimulate radiation of surviving groups
b.
eliminate non-beneficial alleles from gene pools
c.
increase the rate of new mutations
d.
decrease the rate of new mutations
e.
cause mutations that have greater than usual effect
35. What percentage of the species that have ever existed on earth are probably now extinct?
a.
less than 10%
b.
about 99.9%
c.
about half
d.
25%
e.
75%
36. When some members of a group of organisms adapt to a new general way of life, they are said to be
entering
a.
a new niche
b.
an adaptive zone
c.
an adaptive radiation
d.
a new habitat
e.
a period of punctuated equilibrium
37. The evolution of many species from a single common ancestor is called
a.
adaptive radiation
b.
punctuated equilibrium
c.
genetic drift
d.
disruptive selection
e.
microevolution
38. A single pregnant female parakeet arrives in Hawaii early in its history. After millions of years her
descendants have successfully adapted to a variety of foods and habitats. This is the result of:
a.
genetic drift
b.
adaptive radiation
c.
a higher rate of mutation
d.
punctuated equilibrium
e.
sympatric speciation
39. The evolution of horses is best characterized as
a.
a linear sequence of intermediate forms leading to modern horses.
b.
an example of evolutionary convergence.
c.
poorly documented and speculative.
d.
a gradual increase in body size.
e.
a complex branched history with many extinct lineages.
40. The apparent lack of intermediate forms in the fossil record might best be explained as due to
a.
disruptive selection.
b.
frequency dependent selection.
c.
allopatric speciation.
d.
genetic drift.
e.
punctuated equilibrium.
41. The evolutionary mode in which species evolve rapidly at first and then remain stable for very long
periods of time is called
a.
catastrophism.
b.
uniformitarianism.
c.
disruptive selection.
d.
punctuated equilibrium.
e.
anagenesis.
42. A view of Earth’s history that attributes profound change to the cumulative product of slow but
continuous processes is
a.
gradualism.
b.
homology.
c.
punctuated equilibrium.
d.
descent with modification.
e.
cladogenesis.
43. A series of changes in a single lineage of species, without branching to create additional species, is
called
a.
cladogenesis.
b.
paedomorphosis.
c.
punctuated equilibrium.
d.
adaptive radiation.
e.
anagenesis.
44. For which of the following is there fossil evidence of 100 extinct species from five continents, with
only one extant species?
a.
humans
b.
birds
c.
marine mammals
d.
insects
e.
horses
45. Peter Sheldon found that the number of “ribs” in which of the following groups changed over a 3
million year period with no evidence of speciation?
a.
horses
d.
humans
b.
trilobites
e.
octoprocts
c.
insects
46. The skulls of infant chimpanzees and infant humans are remarkably similar in shape. As they mature
they become quite different due to
a.
allometric growth
b.
paedomorphosis
c.
gradualism
d.
preadaptation
e.
heterochrony
47. The changing size ratio between an animal’s head and the rest of its body during development is an
example of
a.
allometric growth.
b.
punctuated equilibrium.
c.
anagenesis.
d.
preadaptation.
e.
paedomorphosis.
48. Some animals have evolved sexual maturity in juvenile body forms. This is called
a.
allometric growth.
b.
preadaptation.
c.
paedomorphosis.
d.
punctuated equilibrium.
e.
anagenesis.
49. A trait that is adaptive in one context and later turns out to have adaptive value in a rather different
context is called
a.
paedomorphosis.
b.
anagenesis.
c.
cladogenesis.
d.
exaptation.
e.
endemic.
50. A gene that determines the structure of body parts during embryonic development is a
a.
homeotic gene.
b.
homeostatic gene.
c.
homologous gene.
d.
homeobox gene.
e.
homogenous gene.
51. The overall body plan of animals is controlled by
a.
Hox genes.
b.
Pax genes.
c.
homeobox genes.
d.
homeodomain genes.
e.
homeostatic genes.
52. The genes that determine where appendages will develop on the animal’s body are called
a.
ideotic genes
b.
homeobox
c.
Hox genes
d.
homeotic genes
e.
homeodomains
53. Genes that code for transcription factors that bind regulatory sites on DNA are called
a.
ideotic genes
b.
homeobox
c.
Hox genes
d.
homeotic genes
e.
homeodomains
54. Tetrapod digits are known to be
a.
an entirely novel evolutionary structure
d.
controlled by genes present in the
common ancestor of primates
b.
controlled by the Pitx1 gene
e.
the result of a mutation in a Hox gene
c.
controlled by genes that were present in
the common ancestor of sharks
55. The complete replacement of one type of organ with another is called
a.
homeotic gene replacement
d.
modularity
b.
evo-devo
e.
punctuated equilibrium
c.
homoeosis
Select the Exception
56. Four of the following are useful for dating fossils greater than 10 million years. Select the exception.
a.
Carbon-14
d.
Thorium-232
b.
Uranium-238
e.
Rubidium-87
c.
Uranium-235
57. Four of the following periods experienced mass extinction events. Select the exception.
a.
Permian
d.
Ordovician
b.
Neogene
e.
Devonian
c.
Cretaceous
58. Four of the following were innovations that led to new adaptive zones. Select the exception.
a.
flight-capable wings in birds
b.
amniotic eggs in early reptiles
c.
Galápagos finches evolved to eat differently sized seeds
d.
sperm cells carried in pollen grains in seed plants
e.
silk glands in spiders
476
MATCHING
Match each of the following events with the correct time period.
a.
Archaean
b.
Cambrian
c.
Ordovician
d.
Silurian
e.
Devonian
f.
Carboniferous
g.
Permian
h.
Triassic
i.
Jurassic
j.
Cretaceous
k.
Cenozoic − Tertiary
59. diversification of terrestrial vascular plants; first amphibians and insects
60. modern birds and mammals diversify
61. origin of mammals; Pangaea begins to break up
62. large swamp forests occur; first seed plants
63. birds appear; dinosaurs diversify and dominate
64. initial radiation of animal phyla
65. asteroid at the end of this period causes extinction of dinosaurs
66. origin of life; evolution of prokaryotes
67. first vascular plants and jawed fishes appear
68. continents coalesce into Pangaea; mass extinction at the end of this period destroys 85 percent of life
Match the following radioisotopes with their half-lives
a.
1.25 billion years
b.
106 billion years
c.
4.5 billion years
d.
14 billion years
e.
700 million years
f.
5730 years
g.
48 billion years
69. Samarium-147
70. Rubidium-87
71. Thorium-232
72. Uranium-238
73. Uranium-235
74. Potassium-40
75. Carbon-14
SHORT ANSWER
76. How does today’s climate compare to most of the Earth’s history, and what does that information
indicate about how human activities can affect climate?
77. Why is it difficult to find intermediate fossils in organisms that have evolved under the punctuated
equilibrium model?
78. What is the general trend in diversity in vascular plants for the past 145 million years?
79. Why would migration to an island by a single pair of birds be likely to lead to adaptive radiation in
their descendants?
80. How do different species of larkspur illustrate the phenomena of heterochrony?
OTHER
81. Arrange the following levels of geological eras in the correct order. Write the letter of the oldest period
next to 1 and the letter of the newest period next to 10.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ANS:
MODIFIED TRUE/FALSE
If the statement is true, answer “T“. If the statement is false, answer “F” and make it correct by
changing the underlined word(s) and writing the correct word(s) in the answer blank(s).
82. Oceanic trenches form primarily where one crustal plate sinks below another.
83. Although they have changed shape through erosion and mountain building, the positions of the major
continents relative to one another has remained fixed since the Earth was formed.
84. Adaptive radiation represents an extensive episode of cladogenesis.
85. Primitive feathers in certain dinosaurs evolved in anticipation of flight in their descendants, the birds.
86. Most likely, about 10 percent of all species go extinct every million years.
87. The most severe mass extinction occurred at the end of the Permian Period.
88. The extinction of dinosaurs was probably due to the breakup of Pangaea and the resulting cooling of
the world’s climate.
89. The extinction of the dinosaurs occurred rapidly as a result of a single cataclysmic event.
90. The evolution of horses involves primarily anagenesis.
91. As animals develop from embryos to adults, the relative sizes of body organs remain constant.
ESSAY
92. What are the factors that make the fossil record biased and incomplete?
93. In what Eons was there very little appearance of new forms of life, how long did they last, and why
was there so little diversification?