1 Flashcards

1
Q

What do fossils provide?

A

A record of life forms that once existed in the past.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What do paleontologists infer from fossils?

A

What past life forms were like and the environment they lived in.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a fossil?

A

Preserved remains of organisms from the past.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What process replaces calcium phosphate in bones with minerals?

A

Mineralization.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are trace fossils?

A

Indirect evidence of organisms such as tracks, trails, and feces.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How does erosion affect fossils?

A

Erosion wears away rock layers, exposing preserved remains.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What do fossils reveal about Earth’s history?

A

They show that evolution has occurred and how Earth’s surface has changed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the approximate age of the oldest bacteria?

A

3.8 billion years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What significant event occurred 4.4 billion years ago?

A

The formation of oceans.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What was the first step in the origin of life according to laboratory experiments?

A

Organic molecules can form in a strongly reducing atmosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are prokaryotic cells?

A

The earliest and simplest cell forms that lack a well-defined nucleus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What characterizes eukaryotic cells?

A

A distinct nucleus surrounded by a membrane and other membrane-bound organelles.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the significance of sexual reproduction in evolution?

A

It increases genetic variability, hastening evolution.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the two kinds of extinction?

A
  • Taxonomic/pseudoextinction
  • True extinction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the main cause of modern species extinction?

A

Destruction of habitats.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the ‘Great Dying’?

A

The End Permian Mass Extinction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are some suggested causes of the End Cretaceous Mass Extinction?

A
  • Asteroid/comet impact
  • Climate change
  • Volcanic activity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the current rate of species extinction?

A

About 4000 species per year.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the geological time scale’s largest division?

A

Eon.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the oldest known fossil age?

A

3.5 billion years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are stromatolites?

A

Layers of calcium carbonate formed by photosynthetic bacteria.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the significance of the Ediacara fauna?

A

They are the oldest fossils of larger, multicellular, soft-bodied marine animals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What major development occurred during the Cambrian period?

A

A period of great diversification in life forms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What were the dominant life forms during the Devonian period?

A

Fishes and vascular land plants.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What was the 'Golden Age' of cephalopods and brachiopods?
The Silurian period.
26
What caused the drastic changes in life forms during the End Triassic Mass Extinction?
Asteroid/comet impacts, climate change, and volcanic activity.
27
What is the Holocene Extinction?
The ongoing mass extinction phase driven by human activity.
28
What is a potential cause of human extinction?
Climate change, nuclear annihilation, or ecological collapse.
29
What is a key characteristic of prokaryotic cells?
They store DNA in a poorly defined area, not separated by a membrane.
30
What significant transition occurred in Earth's atmosphere around 2.0 billion years ago?
Transition from oxygen-poor to oxygen-rich atmosphere.
31
What era is known as the 'Golden Age' of cephalopods and brachiopods?
Silurian (438-408 m.y.a.)
32
During which period did the first land plants develop?
Silurian
33
What significant development occurred in the Devonian period?
The 'Golden Age' of fishes and common land plants.
34
What type of plants developed vascular systems during the Devonian?
Club mosses and ferns.
35
What are gymnosperms?
Naked-seed plants like Glossopteris developed in the Late Devonian.
36
What characterized the Carboniferous period?
Age of amphibians; first winged reptiles and insects.
37
What is Ichthyostega?
An early amphibian with features inherited from fish.
38
What major change occurred during the Permian period?
Amphibians declined; reptiles and insects increased.
39
Which period saw the first dinosaurs and mammals?
Triassic (225 m.y.a.)
40
What was the significant biological event during the Cretaceous period?
The appearance of flowering plants and extinction of many species.
41
What hypothesis explains the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous?
Impact of a meteorite at Chixulub, Mexico.
42
What is the significance of the Tertiary period?
Beginning of modern life forms following the K-T Boundary extinctions.
43
What type of organisms thrived during the Eocene epoch?
Horses, antelopes, cats, and oreodonts.
44
What characterized the Quaternary period?
Mammals successfully colonized all environments.
45
What is the significance of Ardipithecus ramidus?
An early bipedal, erect forest dweller.
46
What does systematics study?
The kinds & diversity of organisms and their relationships.
47
Who developed the original classification system in the 18th century?
Carolus Linnaeus.
48
What is the definition of taxonomy?
The science of naming and classifying organisms.
49
What are the two kingdoms proposed by Linnaeus?
Animalia and Plantae.
50
What is a six-kingdom system?
Monera split into Eubacteria and Archaebacteria.
51
What are the three domains of life?
Eukarya, Bacteria, Archaea.
52
What is phylogenetics?
Study of evolutionary relatedness among groups of organisms.
53
What does biogeography study?
The distribution of organisms across geographical areas.
54
What is the purpose of modern classification?
To group organisms based on evolutionary descent.
55
What is the role of molecular analysis in systematics?
To determine evolutionary relationships using DNA similarities.
56
What are synapomorphies?
Shared, derived traits that reveal evolutionary relationships.
57
What does the term 'phenetic classification' refer to?
Classification based on overall similarities.
58
What is biosystematics?
Modern methods to investigate phylogenetic relationships.
59
What are the four divisions of taxonomy?
* Description * Identification * Nomenclature * Classification
60
What is the significance of characters in taxonomy?
Features or attributes assigned to a taxon for classification.
61
What are the four divisions in taxonomy?
Description, Identification, Nomenclature, Classification
62
What is the definition of 'Description' in taxonomy?
Assignment of features or attributes to a taxon
63
What are characters in the context of taxonomy?
Features or attributes assigned to a taxon
64
What are character states?
Two or more forms of a character (e.g. Petal color: Red, Blue)
65
What is the purpose of Identification in taxonomy?
Process of associating an unknown taxon with a known one or recognizing a new taxon
66
What is a taxonomic key?
A device used to identify organisms, commonly a dichotomous key
67
What is a dichotomous key?
A series of two contrasting statements used to identify organisms
68
What is a couplet in a dichotomous key?
A pair of contrasting leads in the key
69
What does Nomenclature refer to in taxonomy?
Formal naming of taxa according to a standardized system
70
What is the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature?
Rules and regulations for naming taxa in plants, algae, and fungi
71
What are scientific names?
Formal names for taxa, typically translated into Latin
72
What is binomial nomenclature?
A system of naming species consisting of two parts: genus name and specific epithet
73
What is the fundamental principle of nomenclature?
All taxa may bear only one scientific name
74
What is a holotype?
The single specimen designated as the nomenclatural type of a name
75
What is an isotype?
A duplicate of the holotype
76
What is a paratype?
Any specimen cited by the author that is not the holotype or isotype
77
What is a syntype?
Any specimen cited in the original description when there is no holotype
78
What is the type concept in taxonomy?
The element to which a name is permanently attached
79
What is the purpose of Classification in taxonomy?
Arrangement of entities into an order to express relationships
80
What is the disadvantage of common names in taxonomy?
They can be inconsistent and may refer to multiple taxa
81
What is the hierarchical classification system?
A system where each higher rank includes lower ranks
82
Who is known as the Father of Taxonomy?
Carolus Linnaeus
83
What is the significance of the work 'Species Plantarum'?
Published in 1753, it marked the beginning of binomial nomenclature
84
What does the term 'Epitype' refer to?
A specimen selected to serve as an interpretative type when another type does not show critical features
85
What are the two major groups in Antoine Laurent de Jussieu's classification?
Monocotyledons and dicotyledons
86
What is the purpose of a herbarium?
A collection of dried plants for scientific study
87
What is the role of Shen Nung in early taxonomy?
Known as the Father of Chinese medicine, he introduced acupuncture and documented medicinal plants
88
What is the significance of 'De Materia Medica'?
Written by Dioscorides, it included 600 species and was used in medicine until the 16th century
89
What is a mounting sheet in herbarium collection?
An 11.5 x 16.5 inches sheet used to mount and label plant specimens
90
What is a dichotomous key example?
1a Tentacles present – Go to 2; 1b Tentacles absent – Go to 3
91
What is the basic category in biological nomenclature?
Species
92
What is the first step in proper drying of plant specimens?
Use dry newspaper and arrange the twig that both sides of the leaves are shown and that flowers and fruits are not hidden.
93
What should be added to the folded newspaper during the drying process?
Loose flowers and/or fruits (included number label).
94
What materials can be used to facilitate water evaporation during the drying process?
Foam or cardboard.
95
What is the location of the Herbarium mentioned?
Ampayon, Butuan City.
96
What information is typically included in the herbarium sheet?
* Family * Scientific Name * Local/Dialect Name * Habitat * Locality * Collector/s * Date of Collection * Det. By