Evolution in Action

EVOLUTION IN ACTION

Name: ______

Read the article Evolution in Action by Jonathan Weiner from November 2005 Natural History magazine.

1. Did Darwin’s book give examples of evolution occurring in wild populations? Why or why not?

2. What was the name of John Endler’s book? How was it important for the development of the field of evolutionary biology?

3. Give three separate examples of natural selection induced by human impacts on wild populations. In your examples, note the 1) species that are changing (on the line), 2) how humans are inadvertently creating a selection pressure, and 3) the characteristics of the resulting population of the species.

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______- 4. Describe the selection that is currently occurring in the populations of Sockeye Salmon in association with Lake Washington. Include in your description, 1) how the environment changed and 2) how this is leading to changes in the species (with pictures).

5. What type of selection (directional, destabilizing, stabilizing) is represented by the Sockeye Salmon? Explain your choice.

6. Describe the selection that is currently occurring in the populations of Three-Spined Stickleback fish in Norway. Include in your description, 1) how the environment changed and 2) how this is leading to changes in the species (with pictures).

7. What type of selection (directional, destabilizing, stabilizing) is represented by the Three-Spined Stickleback fish? Explain your choice.