Q33 - Evolution of Annual vs Perennial Life-History in Nemesia
Phylogenetic relationship among several species of the genus Nemesia (Scrophulariaceae), accompanied with geological time scale, is shown below. Predicted states for annual/perennial life- history have been mapped to the tree. Annual life-history is shown in black and the perennials are shown in blue (from Datson et al., 2008).
Figure 1.
Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.
A. The phylogenetic tree suggests that Nemesia originated during the Miocene, but the majority of extant Nemesia species radiated during the Pliocene (Pl.) and Quaternary (Qu.)
B. The phylogenetic tree suggests that the most recent common ancestor of Nemesia had an annual life form.
C. The phylogenetic tree does not show shift from annual to perennial habit.
D. Diascia rigescens is the ancestral species of all other taxa in this phylogenetic tree.
Question reproduced from IBO 2018, Theoretical Paper 1, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)