Chapter 3 Flashcards
Taxonomy is…
the science of naming and classifying organisms
How are common names officially determined?
The American Ornithological Society (AOS)
What is systematics?
The study of the evolutionary relationships among organisms
What is the goal of systematics?
To group together related forms while separating less related forms. Ideally, each group within the tree will be monophyletic.
What are the three evolutionary processes phylogenetic trees can indicate?
- Phyletic evolution (change withing species over time)
- Speciation (splitting of the lineage)
- extinction
Homology
A likeness in structures in different organisms due to evolutionary differentiation from a shared ancestor.
Analogy
A likeness in structures in different organisms due to convergent evolution (independent evolution from separate ancestors).
the study of evolutionary branching sequences.
Cladistics
The most parsimonious tree (fewest evolutionary changes) is the ___ likely.
most
The Biological Species Concept states
species are groups of interbreeding natural populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups.
Speciation occurs through
the division of one species into two or more descendent species as a result of genetic divergence of isolated populations.
What reduces the exchange of genes, thus potentially allowing for speciation.
Geographical separation
What are the ways geographic isolation may occur in birds?
- Birds may colonize a new area, such as an island. (Islands of habitat may also work.)
- Fragmentation of habitats leads to reduced gene flow among populations.
