Ch 23 Systematics, Phylogenies, & Comparative Biology – Flashcards

Characteristics between the branch points of a cladogram that are shared by all organisms above the branch point and are not present in any below it are called A. homologous characters. B. homoplastic characters. C. ancestral characters. D. derived characters. E. novel characters.

Characteristics that have arisen in organisms as a result of common evolutionary descent are said to be ______________ characteristics. A. homologous B. homoplastic C. adaptive D. derived E. ancestral

One day after a biology class four of your friends argue about the difference between phylogeny and systematics. Which friend is right? A. Friend A states that systematics and phylogenies are really the same, one is more recent than the other, but basically they are the same. B. Friend B says that systematics is the same as cladistics and cladistics is reconstructing clades, which ultimately lead to the development of phylogenies. C. Friend C argues that systematics is the actual collecting and cataloguing of specimens into museums that can be used later by scientists to construct clades and phylogenies. D. Friend D says that the way she remembers is that systematics is the reconstruction and study of phylogenies.

The evolutionary sequence in the development of a complex character can be best analyzed through A. homoplasies. B. phylogenetics. C. taxonomy. D. classification. E. synapomorphies.

The study and reconstruction of phylogenies is A. evolution. B. systematics. C. taxonomy. D. taxidermy. E. cladistics.

Derived character states shared by clade members are called A. ancestral traits. B. homoplasies. C. synapomorphies. D. plesiomorphies. E. symplesiomorphies.

The following steps are used to construct a cladogram that best reflects the evolutionary relationships of a group of species. If you arranged these steps from first to last, which step would be last? A. Polarize the characters. B. Establish the character states. C. Gather data on characters to be used. D. Apply the principle of parsimony. E. Select an outgroup.

Character states shared by the ancestor or outgroup of a clade are called A. derived traits. B. homoplasies. C. synapomorphies. D. plesiomorphies. E. symplesiomorphies.

Birds, snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles are all thought to share a common ancestor and several homologous traits. Assuming that this is true, these groups of animals would best represent A. a polyphyletic group. B. a monophyletic group. C. homoplastic convergence. D. several clades. E. a species cluster.

Assume that evidence suggests that the crocodiles are more closely related to the birds than the turtles and snakes. If so, then including the crocodiles but not the birds in the Class Reptilia, would make the Class Reptilia A. a monophyletic group. B. a paraphyletic group. C. a polyphyletic group. D. parsimonious. E. not homologous.

A group is considered monophyletic if A. all members of the group share a common ancestor that is included in the group. B. not all descendants of the common ancestor are included. C. all members share homoplastic traits. D. the group does not contain the most recent common ancestor. E. it is the most parsimonious grouping.

A group is considered paraphyletic if A. all members of the group share a common ancestor. B. not all descendants of the common ancestor are included. C. the common ancestor of the group is not included in the group. D. the group does not contain the most recent common ancestor. E. it is the most parsimonious grouping.

A group is considered polyphyletic if A. all members of the group share a common ancestor. B. not all descendants of the common ancestor are included. C. all members share homoplastic traits. D. the group does not contain the most recent common ancestor. E. it is the most parsimonious grouping.

The phylogenetic species concept (PSC) declares that a group is a species if it A. is reproductively isolated from other species. B. has evolved one or more of its own derived characters. C. looks different than other species. D. is allopatric. E. has no synapomorphies.

Parental care in dinosaurs, crocodiles, and birds is an example of A. homoplasy caused by convergence. B. homoplasy caused by common descent. C. homoplasy caused by evolutionary reversal. D. homology caused by convergence. E. homology caused by common descent.

The evolution of saber teeth in a number of groups of extinct carnivorous mammals is an example of A. homoplasy caused by convergence. B. homoplasy caused by common descent. C. homoplasy caused by evolutionary reversal. D. homology caused by convergence. E. homology caused by common descent.

The evolution of conducting tubes (sieve tubes) in land plants and brown algae is an example of A. homoplasy caused by convergence. B. homoplasy caused by common descent. C. homoplasy caused by evolutionary reversal. D. homology caused by convergence. E. homology caused by common descent.