Question

You are studying a group (genus) of small flowering plants on the Hawaiian Islands. Each island has its own unique species that belongs to this genus. Based on what you know about the geological history of the Hawaiian Islands, and how this has impacted speciation in the islands, select ALL of the following that are likely to be true.

a)The plant species found on Kauai is likely the ancestor to the plants found on the remaining major islands.

b)The plant species found on Oahu is likely more similar to the plant species from the Big Island (Hawaii Island) than it is to the plant species found on the Kauai.

c)The plant species found on the Big Island (Hawaii Island) is likely the ancestor to the plants found on the remaining major islands.

d)The youngest species is likely found on the Big Island (Hawaii Island).

E)The plant species found on Oahu is likely more similar to the plant species from Kauai than it is to the plant species found on the Big Island (Hawaii Island).

Answer 1

Answer: In the 1980s, Biologists who were studying the genetics of these hawaiian species realized that they are far more closely related than they appear. In fact, they all appear to be descendents of a single ancestral species that arrived on the Hawaiian islands millions of years ago i.e there was a single species from which all the current members of the alliance evolved and that this species lived on the island of Kauai about five million years ago.

Also, the Big Island ( Hawaii Island) is the biggest and youngest island in the chain of Hawaiian Islands. So, it is possible that the youngest species are found on the big Island.

therefore, the correct is (a) The plant species found on Kauai is likely the ancestor to the plants found on the remaining major islands.

And,

(d)The youngest species is likely found on the Big Island (Hawaii Island).