Differentiating species Flashcards
Q: What comparative work was done when naming Hesperonychus?
A: Paleontologists evaluated features of Hesperonychus and other closely related dinosaur specimens to identify differences.
Q: What is intraspecific variation?
A: Intraspecific variation refers to differences within the same species, such as color patterns in mountain bluebirds.
Q: What are the three types of intraspecific variation in white-tailed deer skulls?
A: 1. Individual variation (shape of antlers)
2. Ontogenetic variation (size differences due to age)
3. Sexual variation (males have antlers, females do not).
Q: Why is it important for paleontologists to consider variations when identifying new species?
A: They must distinguish evolutionary differences that indicate separate species from variations within a single species.
Q: What is the Morphological Species Concept?
A: It defines species based on physical appearance; organisms that look similar are considered a single species, despite some variation.
Q: How many distinct tyrannosaur species are recognized?
A: Four separate species: Tyrannosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Albertosaurus, and Daspletosaurus.
Q: What is a limitation of the Morphological Species Concept?
A: It may misclassify species that look different but belong to the same species, such as dogs with varied appearances.
Q: What is the Biological Species Concept?
A: It defines species as groups of organisms that can interbreed, addressing issues of cryptic species and individual variation.
Q: What conditions must be met for individuals to reproduce according to the Biological Species Concept?
A: Individuals need to be in the same place at the same time; they do not need to look the same.
Q: Why is it challenging to apply the Biological Species Concept to extinct species?
A: Scientists cannot observe interbreeding, making it difficult to confirm whether fossils represent the same or different species.
Q: What defines a population in ecological science?
A: A population is a group of animals in the same geographic area that can potentially mate.
Q: How do paleontologists decide whether to classify a fossil as a new species?
A: They use their best judgment based on unique features, the age of the rocks where fossils are found, and available evidence, sometimes making subjective calls.
