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The common evolutionary ancestry of many organisms is reflected by a geographic distribution consistent with the former supercontinent Gondwanaland - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 19 - 2002 - Paper 1
Question 19
The common evolutionary ancestry of many organisms is reflected by a geographic distribution consistent with the former supercontinent Gondwanaland. An example of t... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The common evolutionary ancestry of many organisms is reflected by a geographic distribution consistent with the former supercontinent Gondwanaland - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 19 - 2002 - Paper 1
Step 1
A. parasitic crayfish in South America, New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea.
Answer
The distribution of parasitic crayfish as stated in option A is a strong example of organisms reflecting the evolutionary history tied to the former supercontinent Gondwanaland. These regions were once connected, allowing species to share a common ancestor before geographical separation occurred.
Step 2
B. bears in North and South America, Europe and Asia.
Answer
While bears have a wide distribution, they do not align specifically with the ancestral distribution patterns of Gondwanaland. This is because they are more recent adaptations and do not share the same ancient lineage relation across these continents.
Step 3
C. flying foxes in Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe.
Answer
Flying foxes have a broader range that does not specifically represent the connections consistent with Gondwanaland. Their evolutionary history involves more intricate patterns across multiple landmasses, which were not part of the ancient supercontinent.
Step 4