macroevolution- 8.5 Flashcards

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1
Q

macroevolution

A

large-scale evolutionary changes
includes periods of stasis, character change, speciation and extinction events

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2
Q

evidence of macroevolution comes from

A

fossils
comparisons from living organisms

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3
Q

diversification/diversification events definition

A

an increase in speciation events and biodiversity on Earth (groups of organisms undergo divergent evolution as they move to occupy many ecological niches)

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4
Q

cambrian explosion

A

the biggest diversification event on earth
541 million years ago, start of the cambrian period, most of the major animal phyla are first seen in the fossil record

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5
Q

mass extinction definition/explanation

A

rapid and widespread decrease in biodiversity on Earth
99.999% of all species on Earth have gone extinct
there have been 5 mass extinction events in Earth’s history

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6
Q

gradualism (gradualism vs. punctuated equilibrium)

A

evolution occurs due to the gradual accumulation of small changes

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7
Q

punctuated equilibrium (gradualism vs. punctuated equilibrium)

A

evolution consists of long periods of “stasis” by rapid periods of change

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8
Q

cladistics

A

determining evolutionary relationships based on the presence or absence of recently evolved (derived) traits

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9
Q

synapomorphy

A

a derived trait shared by two or more species

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