Discuss two hypotheses that attempt to explain the high species richness in the tropics
What will be an ideal response?
ANSWER: An ecological hypothesis is based on the fact that tropical regions experience abiotic
conditions that provide long and predictable growing seasons. Plants flourish in this
environment, which then supports a rich assemblage of herbivores. The rich assemblage of
herbivores then supports many carnivores and parasites. A historical hypothesis is based on
the assumption that the tropical climate is benign. A benign environment decreases extinction
rates and allows organisms to have more generations per year, which results in high
speciation rates.
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A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that describes a phylogeny. A phylogeny is
A. the evolutionary history of a species or group of species. B. the geographic distribution of populations in a species. C. the generations of individuals in a population. D. the distribution of species in a given area in time. E. a list of character traits of individual species set in a tree diagram.
An examination of the arrangement of bones in the hand is an example of a(n) ____
a. ecological study b. taxonomic study c. anatomical study d. physiological study e. homeostatic study
Skeletal muscle growth and development is inhibited by ____ produced in muscle cells
a. erythropoietin b. acetylcholine c. epidermal growth factor d. epinephrine e. myostatin
The presence of a transit sequence directs a protein from the ________ to the ________
A) cytosol; mitochondrion or chloroplast B) endoplasmic reticulum; Golgi apparatus C) cytosol; plasma membrane D) endoplasmic reticulum; nucleus E) signal recognition particle; nucleus