7. Rates of Evolution Flashcards
Anagenesis
Evolving into another species over time
Cladogenesis
Evolving into two or more species over time
Creeps
Gradual speciation
Jerks
Punctuated equilibrium
Gradual Speciation
- Species arise slowly overtime
- Many morphological intermediates
Intermediate Forms
Evolutionary steps between ancestral species/traits and the current species/trait
Evolution of eye - evidence
- Fossils of intermediate eyes found
- Intermediate forms can persist in species
- Some alive today - eyespot
Punctuated Equilibrium
- Species diverge quickly
- After quick divergence, remain unchanged for a long time
- Single or few mutation in short period of time - De novo
- Mutation sever to be noticeable but not deleterious or lethal
- Must be geographic or reproductive isolation
Tiger Salamander
Example of punctuated equilibrium
- Terrestrial
- Single gene mutation caused it to stay as larval stage(aquatic)
- Can become adult form under extreme stress but unable to reproduce
Quantum Speciation
Unexpectedly rapid speciation
- Only seen in punctuated equilibrium
- Often in small population with founder’s effect and genetic drifting
- ex. Big bird lineage of finch - 2 generation
Frequency of gradual vs punctual
Biased
- If intermediates are missing
When looking at species that diverged recently or long ago
Living fossils and evolution
No clear answer
One clear relationship
- If habitat remains stable - species also remain stable
Trait evolution
The evolution of traits - no relation to species
- can be a trait found in many different species
Likelihood of mutation
Severe mutation adding novel traits are rare
- Axolotl is a very rare case
Trends in Trait Evolution
Complexity increase?
- only early unicellular to eukaryotes