Chapter 15 Test - Notes Flashcards
A well-supported explanation of phenomena that have occurred in the natural world is a _____________.
Theory
True or False?
Charles Darwin was looking for a scientific explanation for the diversity of life on Earth
True
Name some observations Darwin made:
An enormous number of species inhabit earth
and
Some species that lived in the last no longer live on the earth
The preserved remains of ancient organisms are called __________.
Fossils
As Darwin studied the fossils, what new questions came about?
1) Why had so many of the species disappeared?
2) How were they related to the living species of today?
How did Darwin explain the differences in the shell shape of tortoises from Hood and Isabella Island?
Curved shells - Hood Island
Dome-Shaped - Isabella Island
Darwin observed that small brown birds on the Galapagos Island differed in the shape of their ________.
Beaks
What did Darwin think about on his journey home to England?
Darwin observed that the characteristics of many animals varied noticeably among the different island of the Galapagos.
After Darwin returned to England, what hypothesis did he develop to explain his findings?
Separate species evolved from a common ancestor
Which two scientists helped Darwin recognize how old Earth is?
J. Hutton and C. Lyell
What is true about Lyell’s work?
1) His work explained how awesome geological features could be built up or torn down over long periods of time.
2) His publications helped Darwin appreciate the significance of the geological phenomena that he had observed.
3) He stressed that scientists must explain past events in terms of processes that they can actually observe.
In what two ways did an understanding of geology influencen Darwin?
He asked himself: “If the earth could change overtime, could life change as well?
Secondly, he realized that it would have taken many years for life to change the way he had suggested
Is the following true or false? Lamarck was among the first scientists to recognize that living things have changed overtime.
True
Is the following true or false? Lamarck proposed that all organisms have an innate tendency toward complexity and perfection?
True
How did Lamarck pave the way for biologists?
He was one of the very first scientists to develop a scientific hypothesis of evolution.
What is true about Thomas Malthus?
1) He was an important influence on Charles Darwin
2) He believed that war, famine, and disease limit the growth of populations
Is the following true or false? When Darwin returned to England, he rushed to publish his thoughts of evolution.
False
The naturalist whose essay gave Darwin an incentive to publish his own work was ___________ ____________.
Alfred Wallace
What is true about Darwin’s book?
1) It contained evidence for evolution
2) It described natural selection
Differences among individuals of a species are referred to as ________.
Natural Variation
True or False? Genetic variation found only in wild organisms in nature
False
Circle the letter of each sentence that is true about artificial selection?
1) Also called selective breeding
2) Occurs when humans select natural variatons they find useful
3) Produces organisms that look very different from their ancestors
What was Darwin’s greatest contribution?
Creating evolution-based scientific hypothesis’
What does ‘struggle for existence’ mean?
It means that members of each species compete regularly to obtain necessities
The ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in its specific environment.
Fitness
Any inherited characteristic that increases an organism chance of survival
Adaptation
Survival of the fittest?
Natural selection
True or False? Adaptations can be physical characteristics but not more complex features such as behavior.
False
The process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms is called _______________.
Evolution
