Patterns Of Evolution Worksheet - Free Printable

Explanation:
We are given descriptions of different types of evolution and need to match each to one of four terms:
- convergent evolution
- divergent evolution
- coevolution
- punctuated equilibrium

Let’s go through each description one by one and decide which term fits best.

1. *“In the ocean surrounding Antarctica, there are fish that survive the cold water by using a molecule made of glycoproteins… Certain kinds of worms… also make antifreeze proteins…”*
→ Fish and worms are unrelated organisms (different phyla), but both evolved similar antifreeze proteins independently to survive cold water. This is convergent evolution (unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environments). ✔ Already labeled correctly.

2. *“Ants are the correct size and weight needed to open the flowers for the peony plant. The peony plant provides food for the ant and the ant fertilizes the peony’s flowers.”*
→ Two species (ants and peony) evolving together in response to each other — mutual benefit. This is coevolution. ✔ Labeled correctly.

3. *“Horse evolution shows long stable periods of little evolution interrupted by brief periods of rapid change.”*
→ This matches the definition of punctuated equilibrium (long stability + sudden bursts of change). ✔ Correct.

4. *“A kit fox lives in the desert and has large ears… The red fox lives in the forest and has a red coat that camouflages it.”*
→ These are related species (both foxes) that diverged from a common ancestor and adapted differently to different environments. That’s divergent evolution. ✔ Correct.

5. *“Hummingbirds have a beak just the right length to reach the nectar in a cardinal flower… Cardinal flowers are red which hummingbirds can see but bees can’t… Cardinal flower’s pollen structure is just the right length for the hummingbird to pick up pollen as it feeds.”*
→ Again, two species (hummingbird and flower) adapting to each other over time — classic coevolution. ✔ Correct.

6. *“The Gallotia atlantica and Gallotia galloti lizards evolved through natural selection from a common ancestor into a wide variety of different looking lizards.”*
→ One ancestor → many descendant species with different traits (adaptive radiation). That’s divergent evolution. ✔ Correct.

7. *“Whales, sharks, and penguins all have streamlined bodies and fins/flippers for moving in water even though they belong in different classes…”*
→ Whales (mammals), sharks (fish), penguins (birds) — very distant relatives — yet all evolved similar body shapes for swimming. That’s convergent evolution. ✔ Correct.

8. *“The Galápagos tortoises share a common ancestor, but have necks of different lengths to best reach the food they need in their environment.”*
→ One ancestor → different populations adapt differently based on local food sources → divergent evolution. ✔ Correct.

9. *“This kind of evolution is proven by DNA analysis and results in organisms with different ancestors becoming more alike as they adapt to similar environments.”*
→ Again, unrelated organisms becoming similar due to similar environments → convergent evolution. ✔ Correct.

Now check if any labels are *incorrect*.

Looking carefully:
All 9 descriptions have labels filled in. Let’s verify each label against our reasoning:

1. Convergent ✔
2. Coevolution ✔
3. Punctuated equilibrium ✔
4. Divergent ✔
5. Coevolution ✔
6. Divergent ✔
7. Convergent ✔
8. Divergent ✔
9. Convergent ✔

Wait — the problem says: *“Read each description below and use words from the word bank to label the type of evolution described.”*
It implies the labels shown may be *student answers* that we need to check/correct.

But the instruction says: Solve the problem accurately — meaning we must provide the correct labeling.

However, in the image (which we’re not describing), the student appears to have already filled in labels — some possibly wrong? Let’s double-check #5 and #2: both say “coevolution” — that’s correct.

What about #4? It says “Divergent evolution” — yes, because kit fox and red fox are closely related species that diverged.

But here’s a possible issue:
#6 says *“Gallotia atlantica and Gallotia galloti lizards evolved… from a common ancestor into a wide variety of different looking lizards.”*
Note: *Gallotia atlantica* and *G. galloti* are two species, but the phrase “a wide variety of different looking lizards” suggests adaptive radiation (multiple species), which is still divergent evolution — correct.

Is there any mislabel?

Let’s re-read #3:
“Horse evolution shows long stable periods… interrupted by brief periods of rapid change.”
That is indeed punctuated equilibrium — correct.

Wait — the word bank includes punctuated equilibrium, and only one description fits it — #3. So that’s fine.

All labels appear correct.

But the task likely expects us to *fill in* the blanks — maybe the original worksheet had blank spaces, and the image shows a completed version (possibly with errors). Since the user says “Solve the problem accurately”, and we’re to provide the final answer, perhaps the expected output is the list of correct terms in order.

Given the format, the “Final Answer” should be the correct label for each description — in order — as a list or matching.

Since the worksheet has 9 rows, and the right column is where answers go, the final answer should be the 9 correct terms in order:

1. convergent evolution
2. coevolution
3. punctuated equilibrium
4. divergent evolution
5. coevolution
6. divergent evolution
7. convergent evolution
8. divergent evolution
9. convergent evolution

Yes — all match standard definitions.

No corrections needed.

Final Answer:
convergent evolution, coevolution, punctuated equilibrium, divergent evolution, coevolution, divergent evolution, convergent evolution, divergent evolution, convergent evolution