Systematics final

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Systematics Final Exam Prep

Test your knowledge and understanding of key concepts in systematics with our comprehensive quiz designed specifically for students of biology and paleontology.

  • 53 engaging questions
  • Covers a wide range of topics from phylogenetics to plant evolution
  • Multiple choice and checkbox formats for diverse assessments
53 Questions13 MinutesCreated by ExploringLife42
What is right about hypotheses and theories? 1) A good hypothesis makes a specific and testable prediction. 2) A good theory is the same as a good hypothesis. 3) A good hypothesis is evaluated by comparing the prediction with observations. 4) A good theory gives predictions that agree with the experiments.
A) Only 1 is correct
B) 1 and 2 are correct
C) Only 3 is correct
D) 2 and 3 are correct
E) 1 and 4 are correct
F) 1, 3 and 4 are correct
In the PhyloCode... 1) … taxa can be changed. 2) … there are ranks and rank endings. 3) … taxa are defined once and for all. 4) ... Taxa cannot be changed.
A) Only 2 is correct
B) 3 and 4 are correct
C) Only 3 is correct
D) Only 4 is correct
E) 1 and 2 are correct
F) 1, 3 and 4 are correct
Concerning the model of Maximum Likelihood, which answers are correct? 1) The simplest of all trees is a tree with three arms. 2) The simplest of all trees is a line of two. 3) The model that makes the data most likely is the one that maximizes the likelihood of the DNA sequence. 4) A “likelihood score” of 2 is better than one of -0.2.
A) All are correct
B) 1, 3 and 4 are correct
C) Only 3 is correct
D) Only 2 and 3 are correct
E) 1 and 3 are correct
F) 2, 3 and 4 are correct
Permineralisation is 1. A fossil formed when a plant part becomes immersed in water containing a high concentration of dissolved material (mostly minerals) 2. An imprint of fossil plants or parts thereof in which the organic substance is still present on matrix 3. Is the greening of the terrestrial realm some 360 mya
A. Only 2 is correct
B. Only 1 is correct
C. Only 3 is correct
What are the two types of errors in Phylogenomic mathematical modelling 1. Morphological 2. Stochastic 3. Genomic 4. Systematic
A. 2&3 are correct
B. Only 4 is correct
C. 1&2 are correct
D. 2 & 4 are correct
Which two phyla are subject to debate as being the sister to all other animals: 1. Porifera 2. Placozoa 3. Ctenophora 4. Cnidaria 5. Bilaria
A. 1 & 3 are correct
B. 1 & 4 are correct
C. 3 & 5 are correct
D. 4 & 2 are correct
When generating phylogenies, what are the differences between morphology and molecular data? A) Molecular character states are discrete, while morphological character states are objective. B) Morphological data is easier to generate phylogenetic trees with. C) Morphological data can only include characters that vary within the group of interest. D) Both contain reproducible data sets. E) Molecular data is easy to share, making collaboration and independent testing easier.
I) All are correct.
II) Only A, B, & E are correct.
III) Only A, C, & E are correct.
IV) Only A, B, & D are correct.
V) Only C, D, & E are correct.
2) Which of these are included in the definition of a “morphospecies” ? A) Binomial name given to fossil plants. B) Based only on morphology. C) Must form monophyletic groups. D) Higher morphotaxa may consist fossils with different biological affinities. E) Established for convenience.
I) All are correct.
II) All but B are correct.
III) All but C are correct.
IV) All but D are correct.
V) All but E are correct.
The relationship between Angraecum sesquipedale and Xanthopan morganii can only be described as …
A) Mutualism
B) Symbiosis
C) Coevolution
Which of the following statements about the controversy regarding the phylogenetic relationships of the major metazoan groups are correct? 1. Depending on methods of data analysis and algorithms used, either Porifera or Placozoa represent the sister-group to all other Metazoa. 2. Phylogenies obtained using CAT-GTR models generally seem to be the most robust. 3. Morphological data clearly favours the Porifera-sister hypothesis. 4. The placement of Cnidaria as sister group to all other Metazoa appears to be a long-branch-attraction artefact.
A) All are correct.
B) Only 1, 3 & 4 are correct.
C) Only 3 & 4 are correct.
D) Only 2 & 3 are correct.
E) Only 2, 3 & 4 are correct.
F) None are correct.
Which of the following statements are correct? 1. Mutualism is an interaction which benefits both parties. 2. The conceptual difference in the two most famous definitions of coevolution is that one refers to a micro-evolutionary process, while the other refers to a macro-evolutionary one. 3. Competition is a persistent force over evolutionary time shaping phenotypic evolution and can occur on a large spatial scale. 4. The long nectar spur of Angraecum sesquipedale and the long proboscis of Xantophan morganii praedicta are clearly the result of a co-evlutionary process.
A) All are correct.
B) Only 1 & 2 are correct.
C) Only 3 & 4 are correct.
D) Only 1, 2 & 4 are correct.
E) Only 2, 3 & 4 are correct
F) None are correct.
Which of the following statements are correct? 1. Among the oldest evidence for life are fossilised alterations in sediments caused by microbes. 2. Usually, impression fossils contain traces of organic matter. 3. Correlating plant fossils that were not found in spatiotemporal proximity to each other is only possible if specimens display shared diagnostic characters. 4. Secondary metabolites of early plants stable enough to be preserved that are found today are regarded as trace fossils.
A) All are correct.
B) Only 1 & 2 are correct.
C) Only 1, 2 & 3 are correct.
D) Only 3 & 4 are correct.
E) Only 1, 3 & 4 are correct.
F) None are correct.
Which of the following statement/s about Maximum Parsimony (MP) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) is/are correct? a) The more data is involved, the easier it is to get the true tree using Maximum Parsimony b) Autapomorphies are pasimony-informative c) Maximum Likelihood allows the use of complex and realistic models for its analysis d) One advantage of ML over MP is that it can make meaningful statistical predictions e) When using the software Mesquite to perform Ancestral State Reconstruction, it is only possible to do a Maximum Parsimony approach
A) only a) and d) are correct
B) only a), b) and e) are correct
C) only c) and d) are correct
D) only b), c) and d) are correct
E) all are correct
Which of the following statement/s about scientific hypotheses and theories is/are correct? a) A good hypothesis makes a specific and testable predictions b) A good hypothesis does not necessarily have to include a prediction c) A good scientific theory gives predictions that agree with experiments d) Hypotheses are explanations for observed patterns or data that are proposed to be examined by experiments e) A strong hypothesis should show an important and unexpected result
A) only b), c) and e) are correct
B) only d) is correct
C) only a), d) and e) are correct
D) all except b) are correct
E) all are correct
Which of the following statement/s on species interactions is/are correct? a) Competition always has a negative effect on both partners b) Parasitism is a form of Symbiosis c) Antagonism benefits both partners d) Symbiosis is not evolutionary stable, therefore this interaction only occurs over short time e) Mutualism always benefits both partners
A) only b), d) and e) are correct
B) only a) and e) are correct
C) only a), b) and e) are correct
D) all except c) are correct
E) all are correct
Which of the following statements is/are correct? a) "Coevolution" has the same meaning as "evolutionary arms race". b) Symbiosis is a relationship between two altruistic individuals. c) Antagonism always leads to speciation. d) Both sides are negatively affected by competition.
1. All are correct.
2. a) and d) are correct.
3. c) and d) are correct.
4. Only d) is correct.
5. None are correct.
Which species do the fossils of "nematophytes" belong to? a) It is not known, but it is known to be a fungus species. b) Ginkgo biloba c) It is not known, but it is known to be a eukaryote. d) It is not known, but it is known to be the most recent common ancestester of all plants.
1. a) and c) are correct.
2. Only b) is correct.
3. Only c) is correct.
4. Only d) is correct.
5. None are correct.
Which statements about nomenclature in Paleontology are true? a) Plant fossils must be classified according to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants and animal fossils according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. b) Naming fossils is not ambiguous since they are well-preserved. c) Naming fossils can be ambiguous because different parts of the organism might be named differently. d) An extinct species is named after the first named fossil from the organism, even if later named fossils might be more famous.
1. a) and b) are correct
2. a), c) and d) are correct
3. a) and d) are correct
4. c) and d) are correct
5. Only d) is correct
6. None are correct
The concept of Coevolution: 1. Mode (1958) originally defined it as a result from selection pressures exerted by one or more species, causing direct genetically based changes in other species The spatial scale of the interaction is variable, but the species have to be close enough to each other The duration of interaction must be over long evolutionary time, considering several generations It could be defined as the reciprocal evolution of traits in interacting species and those traits have a direct effect on the interaction. Ehrlich and Raven (1964) defined it as an escape-followed-by diversification interaction
All are correct
All but 2 are correct.
Only 2 and 5 are correct
Only 2, 4 and 5 are correct
All but 1 are correct.
Regarding the nomenclature of biological taxa: Scientific names are based on species descriptions A class is an atemporal definition with no time scale The nomenclature of algae, fungi, and plants is dependent of zoological and prokaryotic nomenclature All scientific names of taxonomic groups are treated as Latin regardless of their derivation Fungi codes were separated in a different chapter of the last version of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code, 2018)
All are wrong.
All but 2 are correct.
Only 2 and 5 are correct
Only 2, 4 and 5 are correct
All but 1 are correct.
The study and evidence of the geological past tell us that: Most fossils which belong to the Silurian period are from marine environments During the late Devonian a massive radiation occurred in different groups of plants Most gymnosperms and angiosperms that we currently know were present at the end of the Devonian Chemical traces and coprolites are examples of trace fossils The difference between impression and compression is that the latter still presents organic substances of the organism.
All but 3 are correct
Only 2 and 5 are correct
Only 2, 3 and 5 are correct
All but 1 and 3 are correct
All are correct.
Question 1) Maximum likelihood: 1) selects for the tree with the less evolutionary steps 2) uses all the data 3) is statistically inconsistent 4) selects for the tree that best explains the observed data
Only 3 is correct
only 2 and 4 are correct
Only 1, 2 and 3 are correct
Only 4 is correct
Coevolution: 1) is always beneficial to both partners 2) has a short duration of interaction 3) does not need a spatially close interaction 4) only refers to two species interacting
None is correct.
All are correct.
Only 1 and 4 are correct.
Only 3 is correct.
Plant fossils: 1) are distinguished into three categories: Microfossils, Mesofossils and Macrofossils 2) do not always contain an organic structure 3) may provide information about epidermal anatomy 4) do not provide information about reproductive biology
Only 2 and 3 are correct
Only 3 is correct
Only 4 is correct
Only 1 and 4 are correct
Which of the following statement/s on the evolution of plants is/are correct?
The first fossil records of life on earth date back to the Precambrian, about 3.6 billion years ago
He earliest evidence of vascular plants dates back to about 42 million years ago.
The phylogenetic affinity of Nematophytes (tube-based giant plants of the Ordovician) is scientifically well understood and documented.
At the end of the Devonian, all plant families that are present today did exist already, with the exception of Angiosperms.
Which of the following statements about the nomenclature of biological taxa is/are correct?
The botanical code of nomenclature has been written down in the last century and has been unchanged ever since
The most important tool for the allocation of names to biological objects is the type method, designating a type specimen for a new species by the author who first encountered the specimen in question.
A diagnosis of a taxon is a statement of the differences of this taxon from others in the opinion of the author
A wrongly described type can be fixed or replaced, only if the species in question is of economic importance and therefore happens rarely
Which of the following statements about the evolution of Angraecum sesquipedale and Xanthopan morganii praedicta is/are correct?
Charles Darwin described the coevolution of long tongues and spurs at the example of a moth and a plant each with these extraordinary features.
Swing-hovering is an energy efficient way of predator avoidance in hawkmoths that therefore is carried out almost continuously.
A molecular clock approach shows that Angraecum sesquipedale and Xanthopan morganii praedicta are about the same age.
Nilsson’s (1988) first hypothesis on the coevolution of moth and orchid later turned out to be evidently valid.
Which type of species interaction has a negative impact on both species
Mutualism
Symbiosis
Antagonism
Competition
Coevolution
What things are required to scientifically name a new taxon? 1. A type specimen 2. A diagnosis 3.A description
Only 1 is correct
Only 2 is correct
Only 3 is correct
Only 1 and 2 are correct
Only 1 and 3 are correct
All are correct
What interpretations are there to the fossils of Prototaxites?
A giant fungal fruiting body
Aquatic alga
Stromatolite
Rolled-up liverwort mat
Gymnosperm wood
Which statement/s on the differences between morphological and molecular data is/are correct?
Character states in molecular data are indiscrete while in morphological data, they are discrete.
Molecular data is reproducible.
Morphological matrices are not subjective.
It is more difficult to infer phylogenies of homologies based on molecular data.
Morphological data has not worked for inferring the phylogeny of Denisovans
Which statement/s on species interaction types is/are wrong?
In symbiosis, the effect on both of the interacting organisms is always positive.
In mutualistic interaction, the duration can be short or long
In antagonism, one of the organisms benefits the interaction while the other is damaged.
Duration of interaction of competing organisms can be in a range from seconds to years.
Spatial scale of interaction of co-evolved organisms is variable, but mostly closely related
Both impression and compression fossils can provide information about
Gross morphology of a plant (part)
General architecture of a plant (part)
Internal anatomy
Epidermal anatomy
Reproductive biology of a plant
Why is there fossil evidence of early marine fossils in the Precambrian while the earliest evidence of terrestrial fossils appeared only later, in the early Phanerozoic?
Terrestrial land was barren before evidence of higher plants was found
Adequate sediments for fossilization on land were scarce
Although no early evidence of terrestrial plants was found, the presence of biological components in pre-Phanerozoic rock suggests a much earlier development of terrestrial plant life
More research was done on marine life than on terrestrial life
What is the difference between a diagnosis and a description of a taxon?
A diagnosis is a statement that always distinguishes one taxon from others
A diagnosis is a statement that in the opinion of its author distinguishes one taxon from others
A diagnosis is a summary of the characters that distinguish the newly named taxon from similar ones
Both a description and a diagnosis are necessary when naming a new taxo
Which statements about maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony are true?
Parsimony is statistically inconsistent: more data do not lead to more correct trees
Maximum likelihood allows models about data behavior
It is not possible to use bootstrapping with maximum likelihood, only with maximum parsimony
Maximum likelihood uses all data
More data leads to a more correct tree when using maximum parsimony
The term “coevolution” sensu Ehrlich and Raven encompasses
The same rate of evolutionary change in two or more species fully ecologically independent from each other.
Reciprocal interaction among major phylogenetic groups (for instance crabs and snails)
The joint evolution of an ecosystem.
A fit of physiological traits (for instance claw muscle force and shell thickness).
Successive step-like radiations of the interacting phylogenetic entities.
Why do researchers use amino acid sequences in deep phylogenomic reconstructions?
They are easier to obtain than DNA-sequences.
It is only possible to extract proteins from some organisms such as Cnidarians.
DNA-sequences contain too much non-informative positions (noise).
It is more fashionable in the scientific community to use amino acid sequences.
None are correct
The morphospecies concept in palaeobotany
Leads to the erection of various binominals for different anatomical structures of one species.
Can result in higher morphotaxa with totally different biological affinities.
Is still the official way to treat plant fossils according to the Melbourne code
Was so successful that it now is applied to extant taxa, too.
Is only relevant for ferns.
Which of the following answers about “Maximum Likelihood” and “Maximum Parsimony“ are correct?
Maximum Parsimony is statistically inconsistent.
Maximum Likelihood is statistically inconsistent.
Maximum Likelihood uses all data
Under Maximum Parsimony, more data always leads to increasingly correct solutions.
None are correct
What are the first evidences for the first vascular plants?
Tubes
Cuticle-like remains
Spore-like bodies, also called Cryptospores
Antagonism is a type of species interaction. Which of the following answers about antagonism are correct?
The duration of interaction can either be short or long
The spatial scale of interaction always has to be very close
The spatial scale of interaction can be variable
Predation and parasitism are examples for antagonism
According to P.R. Ehrlich and P. H. Raven, Coevolution has the following component(s)
Independent interactions among groups
Fit of physiological traits
Reciprocal interactions among groups
Simultaneous origin of traits in time
Which of the follow characteristics define the Maximum Likelihood method to reconstruct phylogenies?
Is statistically consistent
Is statistically inconsistent
Does not provides a natural measure of support
Uses all data available
Which of the following statement(s) about naming and classifying organisms are correct?
A diagnosis of a taxon is a statement of that which in the opinion of its author distinguishes the taxon from others.
Identifying is the same as naming a taxon for the first time.
Only 2 things are required to scientifically name a new taxon: a type and a description or diagnosis.
The name of a new taxon should represent a summary of the characters that differentiate it from related or similar taxa.
Impression fossils are imprints of fossil plants or parts thereof with no organic substance left on the matrix that May provide information about:
Reproductive biology
General architecture of a plant part
Epidermal anatomy
Internal anatomy
Which of the following about hypotheses are true?
A good hypothesis uses clear, simple language
A hypothesis makes a scientific prediction
A good hypothesis is specific and testable
Phylogenetics, systematics, and evolutionary biology cannot form testable hypotheses
Which of the following predictions of the Pollinator Shift hypothesis is not thought to be true?
He moths should be less dependent on the flower than vice versa
No mutual direction selection, instead directional selection from tongues > nectar spurs
Swing hovering in Xanthopan clade should be older than long spurs in Angraecum
Xanthopan morganii should be able to exist without A. sesquipedale
None are correct
Which of the following statements about Elephas maximus L. Are true?
The Swedish king bought the elephant specimen for Linnaeus
Linnaeus’ type specimen was believed to be an Indian elephant, but is actually an African elephant
Linnaeus’ specimen was the type of the species Elephas maximus
Linnaeus’ type specimen kept the name E. Maximus after discovering it is an African elephant
None are correct
Which of the following are necessary in the naming of a new taxon?
A fully sequenced genome of the species
A diagnosis
A description
A type specimen
None are correct
 
 
 
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