Chapter 15 Test Questions Flashcards
A well supported explanation of phenomena that have occurred in the natural world is a
Theory
T or F? Charles Darwin contributed more to our understanding of evolution that anyone e,she
T
T or f? Darwin was looking for a scientific explanation for the diversity of life on earth
T
Each observation that Darwin made
An enormous number of species inhabit earth
Some species that lived in the past no longer live on earth
The preserved remains of ancient organisms are called
Fossils
As Darwin studied fossils, what new questions arose?
Wondered why so many species had disappeared and how they were related to living species
How did Darwin explain differences in she’ll shape or tortoises from Hood Island and Isabela Island
Curved shells, domed shaped cells
Darwin observed that small brown birds on the Galápagos Islands differed in the shape of their _____
Beaks
What did Darwin thinks about on his journey home to England
He thought about how the characteristics of plants and animals varied among the different islands
After he returned to England, what hypothesis did Darwin develop to explain his findings
The hypothesis he came up with separate species evolved from a common ancestor
Two scientists who helped Darwin and others recognize how old earth is were ______ and ______
James Hutton and Charles Lyell
Sentence that is true about Lyell’s work
His work explained how awesome geological features could be built up or torn down over long periods of time
His publications healed Darwin appreciate the significance of the geological phenomena that he had observed
H 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 influence Darwin
He asked him self if the earth could change overtime might life change as well. He realized that it would have taken many, many years for life to change in the way he suggested.
T or f? Lamarck was among the first scientists to recognize that living things have changed over time
True
T or f? Lamarck proposed that all organisms have an innate tendency toward complexity and perfection
T
How did Lamarck pave the way for the work of later biologists
One of the first to devolve a scientific theory of evolution and he realized that organisms are adapted to their environment
True about Thomas Malthus
He was an important influence on Darwin
He believed that war, famine, Adam disease limit the growth of populations
T or f? When Darwin returned from England he rushed to publish his thoughts about evolution
F
The naturalist whose essay gave Darwin an incentive to publish his own work was _______
Alfred Russell Wallace
True about Darwins book, on the origin of species
It contained evidence for evolution
It described natural selection
Differences among individuals of a species are referred to as
Natural variation
T or f? Genetic variation is found only in wild organisms in nature
F
True about artificial selection
It is also called selective breeding
It occurs when humans select natural variations they find useful
It produces organisms that look very different form their ancestors
What was Darwin’s greatest contribution
A scientific hypothesis on how evolution occurs
What does the phrase struggle for existence mean
Members of each species compete regularly to obtain food, living space, and other nessectuies of live
Any inherited characteristic that increases an organisms chance of survival
Adaption
Survual of the fittest
Natural selection
The ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in its specific environment
Fitness
T or f? Adaptations can be physical characteristics but not more complex features such as behavior
T
Explain what Darwin meant by the phrase survival of the fittest
Individuals that fit in with their environment with low levels of fitness either die or leave few off springs
The principle that living space descend, with changes, from other species over time is referred to as
Decent with modification
The principe that all species were derived from common ancestors is known as
Common descent
Structures that have different mature firms but develop from the same embryonic tissues are called
Homologous structures
Organs that are so reduced in size that they are just vestiges, or traces, of homologous organs in other species are called
Vestigial organs
What is the status of Darwins hypothesizes today
It continues to be upheld by research in all areas of biology
Evidence of evolution
The fossil record
Geographical distribution of living species
Homologous structures of living organisms
Similarities in early development or embryology
The process which modern organisms have descended for, ancient organisms is called
Evolution
