[Campbell Biology P.592] According to Figure 25.23 and its accompanying text, which of the f... | Practice Question

According to Figure 25.23 and its accompanying text, which of the following statements about the Hawaiian silversword alliance is correct?

  • A: The ancestral tarweed, Carlquistia muirii, arrived on Hawaii, the youngest island, approximately 0.4 million years ago.
  • B: The silversword alliance originated in Asia and spread to the Hawaiian Islands.
  • C: Species like Dubautia waialealae and Argyroxiphium sandwicense are examples of the diverse adaptations developed within the alliance on different islands.
  • D: Kauai is the youngest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, having formed 0.4 million years ago.

Explanation

Figure 25.23 clearly labels various silversword species like Dubautia waialealae and Argyroxiphium sandwicense as members of the 'silversword alliance' on different islands, showcasing their diverse adaptations. Option A is incorrect because the ancestral tarweed arrived 5 million years ago, and Hawaii the island is 0.4 million years old. Option B is incorrect as the text states the tarweed came from North America. Option D is incorrect because Kauai is the oldest island shown 5.1 million years old , and Hawaii is the youngest 0.4 million years old .