Evolution and Biodiversity Flashcards
Evidence for evolution, Natural selection, Classification of biodiversity, Cladistics
Define “evolution”
Explain three pieces of evidence that fossils provide that evolution has occurred
Contrast analogous structures and homologous structures
Analogous:
Homologous:
Use an example to explain how selective breeding has lead to evolution in a species
Define “strata” and “paleontology”
Strata:
Paleontology:
Explain the process of artificial selection using selective breeding
Contrast convergent evolution and adaptive radiation
Convergent evolution:
Adaptive radiation:
Define “vestigial structure”
State an example of homologous structures
State an example of analogous structures
State an example of a vestigial structure
Describe the process of gradual speciation
Explain how continuous variation across geographical ranges is evidence of evolutionary change
State an example of recognizably different populations of the same species across a geographical range
Define “pentadactyl limb”
List the bone structures present in the pentadactyl limb
Identify pentadactyl limb structures in diagrams of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
Relate differences in pentadactyl limb structures to differences in limb function
Explain how natural selection leads to changes in the melanistic variety of insects in polluted areas
Propose a mechanism that explains the pattern found in vertebrate limb structure yet allows for the specialization of different limb functions
Define “variation”
Explain why natural selection can only function if there is variation in a species
List sources of genetic variation
Mutation, meiosis, sexual reproduction
Define “adaptation”
List examples of adaptations
Use an example to illustrate the potential for overproduction of offspring in a population
State that species have the ability to produce more offspring than the environment can support
Outline how a “selective pressure” acts on the variation in a population
List examples of “selective pressures”
Explain the effect of the selective pressure on the more and less adapted individuals in a population
Contrast acquired characteristics with inheritable characteristics
State that only inherited characteristics can be acted upon by natural selection
Compare the reproductive success of better and less well adapted individuals in a population
Explain the cause of the change in frequency of traits in a population through natural selection
Outline the role of Charles Darwin and Peter and Rosemary Grant in the study of Galapagos finches
Explain how natural selection leads to changes in the beaks of Galapagos finches with changes in weather conditions
Outline the effect of not completing a full dose of antibiotics on the development of antibiotic resistance
Explain how natural selection leads to changes in antibiotic resistance
List reasons why evolution of antibiotic resistance has been rapid
List three trends that have been observed in the development of antibiotic resistance
Use a graph to illustrate antibiotic resistance over time
Outline the role of botanical and zoological congresses in the naming of plants and animals
Define “binomial nomenclature”
State three rules of binomial nomenclature formatting
Define “taxon” and “taxonomist”
List the hierarchy of taxa, from largest to smallest
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
State the two groups of prokaryotes
Draw a tree diagram to illustrate the evolutionary relationship between organisms of the three domains
List the three domains of life
Outline differences between the three domains of life
Define “natural classification”
List two situations in which the reclassification of a species may be necessary
List the four kingdoms of eukaryotes
List two difficulties in determining the natural classification of species
Outline an example of a species (or group of species) which were reclassified when new evidence was discovered
Explain two specific advantages of natural classification
State the classification of a plant, from domain to species
State the classification of an animal, from domain to species
State the four major plant phyla
Bryophyte, filicinophyta, coniferophyta, angiospermophyta
Identify the phyla of plant given external recognition features
Outline the characteristics of five major vertebrate classes
State seven major animal phyla
Porifera, cnidarian pletyhelmintha, annelida, mollusca, arthropoda, chordata
Outline the characteristics of seven major animal phyla
Contrast “chordate” and “vertebrate”
State five major classes of chordata
Create a dichotomous key given a sample of known specimens
Identify the phyla of animal given external recognition features
Explain the use of a dichotomous key in the identification of a specimen
Identify the vertebrate class of animal given external recognition features
State the role of Carl Linnaeus in naming species
Outline why the binomial naming system is used in science rather than local names
Define “clade” and “cladistics”
Outline the relationship between time, evolutionary relationships and biological sequences (nitrogenous base or amino acid)
Contrast analogous and homologous traits
Analogous:
Homologous:
Outline the use of a “molecular clock” to determine time since divergence between two species
State the source of differences between biological sequences (nitrogenous base or amino acid)
State an example of analogous and homologous traits
Define “cladogram” and “node”
Outline how computer programs analyze biological sequence data to create cladograms
Identify members of clades given a cladogram
Outline the role of technological advancements in the development of cladistics
Explain why the development of cladistics lead to the reclassification of some species
Interpret a cladogram depicting primate species
Outline the reason and evidence for the reclassification of the figwort family
Analyze a cladogram to explain the evolutionary relationship between species
Discuss the use of cladograms as hypotheses of evolutionary relationships
Outline the reason why biological theories may change with time
