Application of Anatomy Flashcards
Define evolution
Animals and species changing and adapting over time
What causes current animals to be different from their ancestors?
Adaptive modifications
Define evolutionary convergence
Animals living in similar circumstances evolve similar structures to solve similar problams
What is mean by homology similarities?
Structures from same embryonic origin but may have different functions
What type of similarity is convergent evolution and explain what it means?
Analogy, structures have the same function but come from different embryonic origin
Define speciation
Individuals from single population diverge to become distinct populations which no longer meet species definitions
Define biome
Worlds major communities of living
What is the specific area and animal is found called, including living and non-living factors?
Habitat
Define a niche
Environmental conditions that define species requirements to practice their way of life
Define extinction
Species no longer exists
List causes of extinction
Human activity Loss of prey Competition Natural disasters Climate change
What is mass extinction?
Large number of species go extinct in a short period of time
Define extant
Animals still living in present
How can we interpret information about extinct animals lives?
Form-function relationships allow us to infer habitats.
Anatomical inferences come from fossils as soft tissue information is limited
What are generalist anaimals?
Animals that survive in a wide variety of conditions and resources
What type of animals can only survive in a narrow range of conditions with limited variety of resources?
Specialists
What desert conditions do those animals need to overcome?
Little water
Very hot at day and very cold at night
Unstable, dusty surfaces
How are animals adapted to living in freezing conditions?
Small SA:V- short limbs, body fat stores and small ears
Insulation- body fat and feathers
Counter current heat exchange feet
Explain how counter current flow works in the feet of penguins
Blood runs parallel in and out so blood cools as reaches feet and warms up as enters the body again. Minimises heat loss
How do nasal conchae help preserve heat?
Complex and high surface area to condense heat and water
