Paleobiology & Macroevolution Flashcards
1
Q
Fossil record ?
A
Main source of data for evolutionary history. Sedimentary rocks (limitations). Incomplete. 300,000 species known from record
2
Q
Relative Dating
A
Uses positions of rock strata
3
Q
Absolute dating
A
Uses radioactive isotopes. Chronicles Macroevolution.
4
Q
Continental drift
A
Plate tectonics cause it. Changes in environment.
5
Q
Historical biogeography
A
Distributions of species and their evolutionary lineages
6
Q
Dispersal
A
Organisms moving around
7
Q
Vicariance
A
Populations get split
8
Q
Convergent evolution
A
Look similar but evolved their traits individually
9
Q
Adaptive radiations
A
Create a cluster of species that come from a common ancestor. Happens fairly quickly
10
Q
Background extinctions?
Mass extinctions?
A
Constantly happening.
Lose lots at same time, opens niches
