1. For each of the pairs below, circle the choice that makes a species more prone to extinction. (5 pts)

2. Very briefly, how does "inclusive fitness" differ from our general idea of fitness? (3 pts)

Inclusive fitness adds the success of closely related individuals to the fitness of the individual itself. Another way to put it is that inclusive fitness is the success of particular alleles rather than success of particular genotypes.

 

3. In an experiment, you found that house finch pairs in Tacoma can successfully fledge 8 chicks in a clutch, but the standard number that house finch pairs raise in Tacoma is only 5. What is one possible reason for their "suboptimal" brood size? (3 pts)

There are many possible reasons - any good reason will be given credit. Here is a partial list:

We did not include subsequent survival or future reproduction in our estimate of "optimal" brood size.

The environment may have changed recently enough that the finches haven't adapted to the increased food supply.

There is gene flow from another population of finches that has lower optimal brood sizes than in Tacoma.

The finches may not be able to lay 8 eggs in a clutch...there may be a phylogenetic constraint.

4. What is a hypothesis? (2 pts)

A hypothesis is a statement of your guess of the underlying reason for or mechanism that causes a particular phenomenon. (It is not your guess of what will happen!)

4. Where would you look for a hypothesis in a scientific paper? (1 pt)

You would look for the hypothesis near or at the end of the introduction, often the last paragraph of the introduction.

5.The map below shows an imaginary island continent on which are found the coastal cities of Corba and Druse. Given the information below, what would you expect about the climates of Corba and Druse? (Answer in parts a-c below). (6 pts)

a. The prevailing winds would be from which direction in

Corba: East

Druse: West

 

b. Circle the months when each city would receive most of its annual rainfall.

Corba:

Jan Feb Mar

Apr May Jun

July Aug Sep

Oct Nov Dec

At the Tropic of Capricorn, peak rainfall is at the height of summer, Oct-Mar (or either one of these groups)

Druse:

Jan Feb Mar

Apr May June

July Aug Sep

Oct Nov Dec

In Druse, just as in Tacoma, the rainfall would mostly be in the winter when the ocean is warmer than the land. That would put the rainfall mostly in April - Sept (or again, either one of these groups)

c. What biome might be most likely in each city?

Corba: most likely a tropical deciduous forest (distinct wet and dry seasons.

Druse: most likely boreal forest or perhaps temperate deciduous forest (or if you were really brave, I'll also happily take temperate coniferous forest!)

Choose from:

Tropical rainforest	Desert	Cool desert (steppe)
Tropical deciduous forest	Temperate deciduous forest	Boreal forest
Tropical grassland (savanna)	Prairie	Tundra