Lec 10: phylogenetic and macroevolution

Question 1

What is the Purpose of a Biological Classification?

Answer 1

• Name is a key to shared information on an organism
  *Therefore has predictive power
  *Enables interpretation of origins and evolutionary history

Question 2

Define taxonomy and systematics

Answer 2

Taxonomy
* The theory and practice of classification & naming

Systematics
* The study of biodiversity and the evolutionary relationships among organisms

Question 3

What is a taxon (taxa)

Answer 3

any unit used in the science of biological classification, or taxonomy.

kingdoms
phyla
classes
orders
families
genera
species

Question 4

What is a monophyletic group?

Answer 4

the complete set of species derived from a common ancestor

Question 5

what is a paraphyletic group

Answer 5

contains some, but not all species derived from a common ancestor

Question 6

contrast mono and paraphyletic groups

Answer 6

Monophyletic group
* A single ancestor gave rise to all species in that taxon and no species in any other taxon
Paraphyletic group
* A taxon whose members are derived from two or more ancestral forms not common to all members

Question 7

Contrast ancestral versus derived traits

Answer 7

• Ancestral trait = A trait shared with a common ancestor
• Derived trait = A trait that differs from the ancestral trait in a lineage

Question 8

Contrast homology vs homoplasy

Answer 8

Homology
* Similarity of traits due to shared ancestry
Homoplasy
* Similarity of traits as a result of convergent evolution

Question 9

Convergent evolution

Answer 9

Convergent evolution occurs when species occupy similar ecological niches and adapt in similar ways in response to similar selective pressures.

The independent evolution of structures that resemble one another and perform similar functional roles due to the shared ecology of unrelated organisms

Question 10

Why Is Molecular Biology Relevant to Evolution & Phylogeny?

Answer 10

• All life is related through branching descent
• Common genetic code is evidence that all life is related
• Evolutionary relationships among species are reflected in their DNA and proteins

Question 11

the equation for diversification

Answer 11

Diversification = Speciation – Extinction
*Key innovation could increase speciation or decrease extinction to influence net diversification

Question 12

Features associated with greater diversification

Answer 12

• Species with more sexual selection
• Animal pollination in plants
• Increased dispersal
• Increased range size
• herbivory
  Coevolution between insects and plants
  likely drives higher rates of speciation in herbivores