Campbell Biology in Focus
Campbell Biology in Focus
3rd Edition
ISBN: 9780134710679
Author: Lisa A. Urry, Michael L. Cain, Steven A. Wasserman, Peter V. Minorsky, Rebecca Orr
Publisher: PEARSON
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Textbook Question
Book Icon
Chapter 23, Problem 1TYU

Which factor most likely caused animals and plants in India to differ greatly from species in nearby southeast Asia?

  1. A.    The species became separated by convergent evolution.
  2. B.     The climates of the two regions are similar.
  3. C.     India is in the process of separating from the rest of Asia.
  4. D.    India was a separate continent until 45 million years ago.
Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
Summary Introduction

Introduction:

The Earth is not made up of one compact rock, instead, it is made up of seven different rocks or plates called the tectonic plates. These plates are in a state of continuous movement, but they move at a very slow pace. This property of movement of the continents across the Earth’s surface through the geological time is called continental drift.

Answer to Problem 1TYU

Correct answer:

There was a crash between two of the seven tectonic plates. The Eurasian plate and the Indian plate crashed with each other. It is because of this crash, the formation of the Himalayan mountain system took place. Hence, India was a separate continent until forty-five million years ago. Therefore, the animals and plants of India differ from the species in Southeast Asia. Thus, option (D) is correct.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for the correct statement:

Continental drift is one of the major factors responsible for changes in the formation of mountain eruption of the volcanoes. Mountains affect the climate of a country significantly by blocking wind and air masses. They also cause rainfall in a country. Species from India differ from Southeast Asia because “India was a separate continent until 45 million years ago”.

Option (D) is given as “India was a separate continent until 45 million years ago”.

“The factor that most likely caused animals and plants in India to differ greatly from species in nearby Southeast Asia is that India was a separate continent until 45 million years ago”, hence, it is the right answer.

Hence, option (D) is correct.

Reason for the incorrect statements:

Option (A) is given as “The species became separated by convergent evolution”.

Variations in the animals and plants of India from species in Southeast Asia are because of the Himalayan mountains, and not because the species became separated by a convergent evolution. Hence, it is the wrong answer.

Option (B) is given as “The climates of the two regions are similar”.

There are differences between animals and plants of India from species in Southeast Asia because of the Himalayan mountains and not because of the similarity in the climate. Hence, it is the wrong answer.

Option (C) is given as “India is in the process of separating from the rest of Asia”.

The plants and animals of India differ from their counterparts from Southeast Asia because of the Himalayan mountains and not because India is in the process of separating from the rest of Asia. Hence, it is the wrong answer.

Hence, options (A), (B), and (C) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Continental drift along with the Himalayan mountains are responsible for the difference between the Indian plants and animals from Southeast Asia.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
PCBs and River Otters: Otters in Washington State’s Green-Duwamish River have high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in their livers. PCBs can bind to the estrogen receptors in animals and disrupt the endocrine system of these otters. The PCBs seem to increase the estrogen to androgen ratio, skewing the ratio toward too much estrogen.     How would increased estrogen affect the river otter population? Based on your reading of the materials in this unit, what factors can affect fertility in humans?   Explain how each of the factors affecting human fertility that you described can disrupt the human endocrine system to affect reproduction.
Other than oil and alcohol, are there other liquids you could compare to water (that are liquid at room temperature)? How is water unique compared to these other liquids? What follow-up experiment would you like to do, and how would you relate it to your life?
Selection of Traits What adaptations do scavengers have for locating and feeding on prey? What adaptations do predators have for capturing and consuming prey?
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
  • Text book image
    Concepts of Biology
    Biology
    ISBN:9781938168116
    Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
    Publisher:OpenStax College
Text book image
Concepts of Biology
Biology
ISBN:9781938168116
Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
Publisher:OpenStax College
Phylogenetic Mysteries: Crash Course Zoology #12; Author: CrashCourse;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVaw7nF72Aw;License: Standard youtube license