Macroevolution

Question 1

Gradualism

Answer 1

Big differences between species accumulate through slow, steady change

Question 2

Punctuated equilibrium

Answer 2

Periods of little change interrupted by short periods of rapid change

Question 3

Adaptive radiation

Answer 3

Periods of evolutionary change in which groups of organisms form many new species
-can be associated with organisms experiencing new opportunities

Question 4

Key events in the history of the Earth: (3 things)

Answer 4

1. Earth and life are extremely old
2. key events in life on Earth are linked to evolution of novel adaptations
3. boundaries between geological periods are marked by big changes in dominant organisms

Question 5

Mass extinctions: (3 things)

Answer 5

1. boundaries among geological periods are marked by mass extinctions
2. there were 5 mass extinctions
3. mass extinctions were caused by environmental change (onset of ice age/other climate shifts, catastrophic meteor strike, volcanoes, etc.)

Question 6

Cretaceous mass extinction

Answer 6

• 65 million years ago
• large decreases in diversity of terrestrial plants and animals
• dinosaurs lost
• marine species lost (50-80% lost)
• 5-10 million years to recover (permian extinction took 100 million years to recover)

Question 7

New opportunities

Answer 7

Environments with little/no competition (lots of opportunity), due to evolution of a key adaption (hard body parts, etc.)