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A plant species found in the area immediately around Sydney has also been found in a small area in the Gibraltar Range in the far north of NSW - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 18 - 2004 - Paper 1
Question 18
A plant species found in the area immediately around Sydney has also been found in a small area in the Gibraltar Range in the far north of NSW. Predict what might h... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A plant species found in the area immediately around Sydney has also been found in a small area in the Gibraltar Range in the far north of NSW - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 18 - 2004 - Paper 1
Step 1
Predict what might happen to the TWO populations over the next 5 million years, in terms of Darwin/Wallace’s theory of evolution.
Answer
Over the next 5 million years, the two populations of the plant species around Sydney and in the Gibraltar Range may undergo divergent evolution due to the geographical separation and different environmental conditions. According to Darwin/Wallace’s theory, natural selection may lead to adaptations that best suit each population’s specific habitat. As the populations adapt, they could potentially become distinct species, especially if there are genetic changes that accumulate over time. Environmental pressures such as climate, soil type, and available pollinators or competitors will also influence this evolutionary path.
Step 2
Justify the use of vertebrate forelimbs as evidence to support the theory of evolution.
Answer
The use of vertebrate forelimbs as evidence supports the theory of evolution through homologous structures. Despite performing different functions in species such as humans, whales, birds, and bats, the underlying skeletal structure of their forelimbs is remarkably similar, indicating a common ancestry. This similarity suggests that these species diverged from a shared ancestor and adapted their forelimbs for various functions in response to their environments. Such anatomical similarities serve as concrete evidence of evolutionary pathways.