Question

question 6(multiple choice worth 2 points)
(05.02a mc)
what happens after a mass extinction, such as an ice age or the extinction of the dinosaurs?
the remaining species are able to live longer due to increased food supply.
surviving populations reach a state of equilibrium due to decreased competition.
the surviving species evolve more rapidly to fill the newly available niches.
organisms evolve more slowly as they recover from the loss of diversity.

Explanation:

• Option 1: Mass extinction reduces species, but food supply isn't guaranteed to increase for longer lifespans.
• Option 2: After mass extinction, there's new ecological space (niches), so equilibrium from decreased competition is incorrect as species will adapt to fill niches.
• Option 3: Mass extinction leaves many empty ecological niches. Surviving species evolve rapidly (adaptive radiation) to occupy these new niches, which matches evolutionary theory.
• Option 4: Evolution speeds up, not slows, as new niches drive adaptation.

Answer:

C. The surviving species evolve more rapidly to fill the newly available niches.