2. Phylogenetics, diversity and the comparative method Flashcards
What are Stromatolites
oldest know fossils with
appearance similar to biofilm
sediment layers produced by
cyanobacteria
Sea levels of green house and ice house
Green house - high sea levels
Ice house low sea levels
Vascular plant meaning
lignified xylem
What is a tetrapod
Tetrapods are four-limbed vertebrate animals constituting the superclass Tetrapoda. Amphibians, reptiles (including dinosaurs and birds) and mammals are the major groups of the Tetrapoda. Tetrapods include all land-living vertebrates, such as frogs, turtles, hawks, and lions.
What is a gymnosperm?
Plant with seeds
what is a Holometabolous insect?
complete metamorphosis from larvae -> pupae -> adult
what are amniotes?
any of a group (Amniota) of vertebrates that undergo embryonic or fetal development within an amnion and include the birds, reptiles, and mammals.
Angiosperms
Flowering plants
When do continents become recognisable
post K/Pg
What happened to ecological release and niche filling after K/pg
species which were previously kept in ecological role that is no longer occupied so get bigger
From how many groups did carnivores evolve?
Carnivores evolved from 3 distinct groups. Some morphologies evolved many times independently
How many times did giant flightless birds evolve?
3 times.
vicariance meaning
the geographical separation of a population, typically by a physical barrier such as a mountain range or river, resulting in a pair of closely related species.
What explains distribution of species on different continents?
Vicariance and dispersal. Under vicariance, geographic splits
cause phylogenetic splits.Dispersal can
explain phylogenetic splits that don’t match geography
What are paleognaths and what are they an example of and why?
Group of ancient birds including emus and ostriches which DO NOT exhibit vicariance. Topology doesnt match expecation. Flightlessness evolved seperately and convergently 6 times. Gigantism arose 5.
