Module 8 : Ecosystems and Adaptations Flashcards
(Evolution : Part 1)
What is natural selection?
- observed changes in a population are a response to specific environmental pressures unique to each environment.
- variation, heritability, and fitness are the components
- different environments = different adaptations
(Evolution : Part 1) Define the following terms associated with natural selection : (A) variation (B) heritable traits (C) fitness
(A) variation :
- traits vary from individual to individual
- nature needs “choices”
(B) heritable traits :
- trait that can be passed on genetically from parent to offspring
(C) fitness :
- number of offspring an organism leaves over its lifetime compared to other individuals in the population
- “choices” of trait result in changing survival odds
(Evolution : Part 1)
Describe an example of a population that changes over time due to natural selection. How do variation, heritable traits, fitness, and natural selection allow change in the population to occur?
- White rabbits have adapted to their environment
- the white helps them to blend into their surroundings to help avoid predation
(Evolution : Part 1)
Why are adaptations an important component of a species’ survival?
- because they are important for survival
- if the species does not adapt to it’s environment it lives in, it will not survive
(Evolution : Part 1)
Describe adaptations of animals in extreme environments, such as a polar bear (in a cold, arctic environment) or a desert rabbit (in a hot, humid environment)
- polar bear : (cold, arctic environment) larger, tend to have smaller surface area-to-volume increases rapidly due to growing so quickly (Bergmann’s Rule), short appendages (Allen’s Rule) and small ears to conserve heat, although polar bears seem white, they are transparent, which allows sun to transmit to skin below, they have insulating layers that conduct heat slowly and slow down heat loss
- desert rabbit : (hot-dry-desert environment) smaller, long legs, large ears that increase the surface area available for heat dissipation, extensive blood vessels that carry heat from core of body to skin where convection cool them off, pale in color
(Evolution : Part 1)
Theory of Evolution
- The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
- Charles Darwin is widely known for his theories on Natural Selection and The Theory of Evolution
(Evolution : Part 2) Describe how variation, heritability, fitness, and natural selection contributed to the evolution of the following populations : (A) peppered moths (B) antibiotic resistant bacteria (C) Darwin's finches
(A) peppered moths :
- natural selection : blended in with white bark; smog created from factories changed color of bark on trees (environmental change)
- variation : alternative moth colors
- heritability : color is inherited
- fitness : alternate coloration, increased survival
(B) antibiotic resistant bacteria :
- antibiotic kills sensitive bacteria, sensitive population dies off, antibiotics are often over prescribed and/or not taken correctly and/or not disposed of properly, bacteria gains resistance “super bug”
- natural selection : environmental poison
- variation : resistance to poison
- hereditarily : resistance is inherited
- fitness : resistant bacteria, increased survival
(C) Darwin’s finches :
- his observation showed a variation in the size and shape of their beaks; each type of finch’s beak was suited to and used for a different diet; this supported his idea that all types of finches started as “one” and then evolved into the different types based on the food available
- natural selection : altered food
- variation : potential beak shapes
- heritability : beak shape inherited
- fitness : food-specific beak, increased survival
(Evolution : Part 2) Describe how the following are examples of evidence that support the theory of evolution : (A) anatomical homologous (B) vestigial organs (C) vertebrate embryo development (D) fossil record (E) biogeography (F) common ancestors (G) DNA evidence
(A) anatomical homologies :
- morphological or physiological similarities between different species of plants or animals
- source of most traditional evidence for evolution
- it continues to provide many examples of deep relationships between species which are best or only explained through evolutionary theory when the similarities simply don’t make sense from a functional perspective
- recurring structures in nature (hands, paws) (bone structures anatomy is the same, slightly different shape or orientation)
(B) vestigial organs :
- organ that serves no useful function in an organism
- “hidden” anatomical homologies (whale and snake no legs or arms Bone structure shows pelvis and femur)
(C) vertebrate embryo development :
- vertebrate at any stage of development prior to birth or hatching
- an animal in the early stages of growth
- nature doesn’t mess with a good thing (most animals look similar when in beginning stages of an embryo)
(D) fossil record :
- information about past life, including the structure of organisms, what they ate, what ate them, in what environment they lived, and the order in which they lived
- evidence from the past (place in time, deeper is older, can create a timeline of animals based on structures found in fossils, where they are found is important you can track migration patterns and species splitting up)
(E) biogeography :
- geographic distribution of species
- Darwin’s finches on the Galápagos Islands, different finches on different islands due to adaptation
(F) common ancestors :
- group of organisms said to have common descent if they have a common ancestor
- in modern biology, it is generally accepted that all living organisms on Earth are descended from a common ancestor or ancestral gene pool
(G) DNA evidence :
- can solve evolutionary puzzles, such as how to classify organisms that look similar to one species but share peculiar behaviors with one another
- paternity testing
- inter species testing, similarities in DNA
- genetic relation timeline can be made over time, genetic similarity increases
(Classification Part 1 : Introduction)
How are organisms classified in Linnaean classification?
- system of classification that emphasized the shared physical similarities of organisms
(Classification Part 1 : Introduction)
List, in order, the levels included in Linnaean classification.
- domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
- easy way to remember :
Do (domain) Keep (kingdom) Pots (phylum) Clean (class) Or (order) Family (family) Gets (genus) Sick (species)
(Classification Part 1 : Introduction) Which if the following levels in Linnaean classification would be the most inclusive? (A) Domain (B) Kingdom (C) Family (D) Species
ANSWER
(A) domain
(Classification Part 1 : Introduction) Which of the following shows the levels of Linnaean classification in order from most specific to most general? (A) species, family, order, genus (B) family, genus, order species (C) species, genus, family, order (D) order, family, genus, species
ANSWER
(C) species, genus, family, order
(Classification Part 1 : Introduction) Which of the following groups contains all heterotrophic, non-motile organisms with cell walls? (A) animals (B) plants (C) fungi (D) protists
ANSWER
(C) fungi
(Classification Part 1 : Introduction) Prokaryotic organisms that tend to live in extreme environments generally belong to the domain : (A) Protista (B) Eukarye (C) Archaea (D) Bacteria
ANSWER
(C) Archaea
Quiz A
What adaptations did Darwin observe in finches in the Galapagos Island that suggested natural selection had occurred?
- Differences in beak size and shape varied with the types of food available in the environment.
- Darwin observed that the finches exhibited different beak sizes and shapes depending on the type of food available in the habitat.