Evolution (Edexcel A (SNAB) A Level Biology)

Exam Questions

45 mins5 questions
1a
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4 marks

Mining for gold produces waste material which contains sulfur-bearing minerals. When surface water and shallow groundwater come into contact with these minerals a chemical reaction occurs which produces sulfuric acid. This process is known as acid mine drainage and it can lower the soil pH to a level where very few plants can survive.

Environmentalists studied the area around an abandoned gold mine and discovered a few earleaf acacia (Acacia auriculiformis) individuals surviving in the acidic soil. A. auriculiformis typically occurs in more neutral or alkaline soils.

Explain how natural selection could produce a population of A. auriculiformis that would be tolerant to the acidic soil found around the mine shaft.

1b
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2 marks

A. auriculiformis typically flowers from April to July in its native habitat. Ecologists studied the flowering time of the population of A. auriculiformis that are tolerant to low soil pH and compared it to the flowering time of a population growing in the surrounding habitat which was not tolerant to low soil pH. They measured the density of flowers found on the trees over a period of 180 days from 20 April.

The graph below shows the results of this study.

17-3-fig-3-1

Describe the flowering times of normal and acid-tolerant A. auriculiformes.

1c
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3 marks

Explain how the results shown in the graph at part (b) could lead to the development of a new species of acacia.

1d
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2 marks

The change in soil pH can lead to the formation of a new species over time.

State what is meant by the term 'species'.

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2a
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3 marks

The image below shows a series of fossils in varying states of completeness.  
Eusthenopteron is an extinct genus of fish while Ichthyostega is an extinct genus of partially aquatic tetrapod (four-legged vertebrates). 

evolution

Compare and contrast the fossil Ichthyostega with Acanthostega.

2b
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2 marks

Use the information in the diagram at part (a) to explain how these fossils provide evidence for the process of evolution.

2c
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2 marks

The theory of evolution by natural selection is widely accepted by the modern scientific community due to several different sources of evidence that support it.

Other than the fossil record, state two sources that provide evidence for evolution.

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3a
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2 marks

Scientists collected specimens of Southern cave crayfish (Orconectes australis - pictured below) living in different parts of a system of caves.


orconectes-australis-marshal-hedin

Some of the specimens were collected close by the mouth of the cave, while others were taken from parts that were deeper in the cave system.

They measured the diameter of the eyes of each crayfish, as well as the length of the antennae. From these measurements, they calculated the mean values for each site.

Their results are shown in the table below.

  By the cave mouth Deep in cave system
 Mean diameter of the eye / mm 0.35 0.21
 Mean length of the antennae / mm 5.76 7.42

An article that the scientists studied during a literature review suggested that cave dwelling crayfish living deeper in cave systems had smaller eyes to decrease their energy expenditure and longer antennae to better explore their environment for food and predators, compared to their counterparts living close to the mouth of caves.

Use the data in the table to evaluate this suggestion.

3b
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2 marks

Calculate the percentage decrease in the mean eye diameter between the crayfish living close to the cave mouth and those living deeper in the cave system.

3c
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1 mark

The scientists predict that over time the different populations of crayfish in the cave system may form different species.i)

Which of the following events must occur for this to happen? 

  1. There must be a geographical barrier that form between the different populations
  2. The phenotypes of the individuals in both populations must change
  3. There must be no gene flow between the populations
  A I and III
  B II only
  C III only
  D I, II and III

3d
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3 marks

Before publishing the research done by the scientists on the Southern cave crayfish, it was peer reviewed by a panel of experts.

Explain the importance of the peer review process in the scientific community.

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4a
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5 marks

The Cape dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum) is a species of chameleon that is endemic to the southwestern Cape region of South Africa. They are mainly found in the typical fynbos and renosterveld vegetation of the area which are characterised by woody shrubs and reeds, but have experienced significant habitat loss due to urbanisation. They have been shown to be partially adaptable to this by establishing themselves within gardens, overgrowth along the roadside or undeveloped urban areas.

Explain how urbanisation could result in speciation within a population of Cape dwarf chameleons over time.

4b
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3 marks

Male Cape dwarf chameleons are not usually territorial, but regular confrontations between males may escalate and result in fighting on occasion. Studies have shown that males with larger casques and pink flank patches were more successful during fights. 

The diagram below shows an image of a Cape dwarf chameleon.


s23qV_SB_cape-dwarf-chameleon

Vegetation was removed from part of a garden where a population of chameleons lived. This decrease in habitat size led to more confrontations between the male chameleons.

(i)

Predict what may happen to the size of the casque and pink flank patch in the male chameleons of this population over time.

(1)

(ii)

Explain your answer from part (i).

(2)

4c
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1 mark

Which of the following provides the most accurate description of natural selection? 

  A Selection pressures in a particular environment will determine the chance of survival of an individual.
  B Organisms will adapt to changes within their environment to increase their chance of survival.
  C Natural selection will ensure that only the best adapted individuals will survive to reproduce.
  D Mutation, mitosis and random fertilisation during sexual reproduction are all sources of variation within a species.

4d
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2 marks

Mutations are an important source of variation that enables natural selection to occur.

Explain how a mutation could lead to a change in a characteristic of an organism.

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5a
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3 marks

Explain the importance of heritable variation in evolution.

5b
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1 mark

Research was carried out on beak size in the island-living finch species Geospiza fortis.

G. fortis feeds on seeds, which are plentiful, small, and soft in the years when the weather is normal, but the seeds become larger and tougher in drought years. Some of the research results are shown in the graph below.

QL~iPKog_picture3


Which of the following statements explains the results in the graph? 

  A Finches adapt to drought years by developing larger beaks, passing on the characteristics to their offspring, and leading to an increase in average beak size.
  B Average finch beak size increases during years of drought and decreases during wet years.
  C Average beak size increased from 9.5 mm in 1976 to 9.9 mm in 1977, before slowly decreasing to 9.7 mm by 1979.
  D Finches with larger beaks have an advantage when competing for food in drought years, and are therefore more likely to survive and pass on their alleles, leading to an increase in average beak size.

5c
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4 marks

Compare and contrast allopatric and sympatric speciation.

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