The theory of evolution explains that species change in small ways through a gradual process of natural selection that occurs over the course of many generations. these small changes can eventually lead to entirely new species. if a scientist discovered a sequence of dna that links the manatee (a marine mammal) to their land-dwelling ancestors, which explains the likely effect of this discovery on the theory of evolution? the new discovery will cause the theory to be modified because it adds to current knowledge. the new discovery will cause the theory to be dismissed because it contradicts it. the new discovery will further deny the theory because it presents evidence that contradicts it. the new discovery will further support the theory because it presents evidence that supports it.

Examine the two squirrel populations in the accompanying figure. the populations are separated by a geographic barrier. if after a long period of time the two species are no longer separated, what evidence is needed to determine if speciation has occurred? the figure shows two populations of squirrels separated by a geographic barrier. examine the two squirrel populations in the accompanying figure. the populations are separated by a geographic barrier. if after a long period of time the two species are no longer separated, what evidence is needed to determine if speciation has occurred? the figure shows two populations of squirrels separated by a geographic barrier. polyploidy is creating new species. the two populations are not interbreeding freely. hybrid offspring of the two populations begin to appear. one species will increase into a population size twice as large as the other species.

To answer this question, researchers studied populations of the dusky salamander (desmognathus ochrophaeus) living on different mountain ranges in the southern appalachian mountains. the researchers tested the reproductive isolation of pairs of salamander populations by leaving one male and one female together and later checking the females for the presence of sperm. four mating combinations were tested for each pair of populations (a and b)—two within the same population (female a with male a and female b with male b) and two between populations (female a with male b and female b with male a). the proportion of successful matings for each mating combination was measured. for example, when all the matings of a particular combination were successful, the researchers gave it a value of 1; when none of the matings were successful, they gave it a value of 0. then the researchers calculated an index of reproductive isolation that ranged from 0 (no isolation) to 2 (full isolation). the reproductive isolation value for two populations is the sum of the proportion of successful matings of each type within populations (aa + bb) minus the sum of the proportion of successful matings of each type between populations (ab + ba). the table provides data for the geographic distances and reproductive isolation values for 27 pairs of dusky salamander populations.

Which is an example of a vestigial structure? a. tail of a monkey b. fin of a fish c. flower of a plant d. tailbone of a human