reconstructing primate evolution Flashcards
Phylogeny
the evolutionary history and development of a species
Species
Interbreeding, natural populations, reproductiveely isolated form other populations and are potentially capable of producing live, fertileoffspring
Phylogenetic tree
a graphic representation of the evolutionary relationships between animal species. It includes the branching order from a common ancestor and the time of divergence
dogs wolves can produce fertile offspring yet are different species.
examples of not common cross speciation
what is the three steps of speciation?
First, Geographic isolation Second, Reproductive isolation Third, Genetic isolation
sympatric speciation
creating two species at the same time
two examples of geographic isolation
continental drift deforestation
two examples of reproductive isolation
Physical anatomy does not fit to mate mating call does not attract mate
genetic isolation
when genes of male and female are no longer compatible to produce a live fertile offspring
three forms of evolutionary time in speciation
stasis- No new change Anagenesis- start with ancestral species and end with ONE new species Cladogenesis- start with ancestral species and end with TWO new species
Phyletic gradualism
evolutionary change is slow and gradual and most speciation is anagenesis with occasional cladogenesis
punctuated equilibrium
most of the time little speciation ( stasis) then evolution.
what defines a successful species in a evolutionary sense?
Numeric abundance Geographic distribution Geological Longevity
Species example of evolutionary success
possum; has numeric abundance, geographical distribution, deological longevity
Statement : its the fate of all species to go extinct
All animals are a combination of both ancestral and derived
Ancestral characteristics
Characteristics that are similar to characteristics found in an ancestor
Derived characteristics
Characteristics that have been changed from ancestral conditions
Ecology
The study of interactions of living organisms with one and another and their inorganic world. the study of relationships to other things in its world
Ecosystem
a community of different species of plants and animas interacting with one another and the chemical and physical parts of their environment
Biome
Regions that share physical characteristics and have similar communities of plants and animals.
habitat
the area within a species distribution range where a member of that species can actually live
Ecological niche:
the manner in which an organism obtains its resources; analogous to its role or job in the ecosystem
Cladogram
a graphic representation of the evolutionary relationship of a group of taxa based on shared characteristics
Three sources of data for evolutionary reconstructions
Molecular approach Paleontological approach Comparative approach
Molecular approach (vince )
uses of the DNA of living animals to explore the evolutionary relationships between these animals. using DNA and molecular clock to figure out time and differences in past species.
4 Advantages of the molecular approach
- not subjective 2. gives a numerical value 3. doesn´t need fossils 4. can give time of divergence
3 Disadvantages of the molecular approach
Tells us nothing about what our ancestors looked like 2. tells us nothing about the environment in which our ancestors lived 3. tells us nothing bout the behavior of our ancestors
Paleontology
the study of prehistoric life-forms and the paleoenviornments in which they lived. they study fossils.
Taphonomy
the study of processes of burial and fossilization
5 advantages of the paleontological approach
- Can Tell Us About the morphology of the organism 2.CTUAT environment in which the organism lived 3. CTUAT little about the non-social behavior of the organism 4. Can sometimes tell us about the sex and health of an organism 5. can sometimes tell us about the age of the individual
Disadvantages of the paleontological approach
- subjective interpretations 2. finding the fossils in the large part the result of chance 3. sample error 4. Major gaps in the fossil record 5. tells us little about the social behavior of the organism
Advantages of the comparative approach
- tells us what a specific environment can produce 2. provides us information on the functions of certain characteristics 3. proves some insights into the social behavior of our ancestors 4. highlights what the shared characteristics of the taxon are.
Disadvantage of the comparative approach
- limited to living forms: however, once finding are made they can be applied to fossil forms 2. while it allows us to construct a cladogram, it cannot tell us the time of branching 3. the problem of convergent evolution
What kind of evolutionary time is this?
Stasis
What kind of evolutionary time is this?
Anagenesis
What kind of evolutionary time is this?
Cladogenesis
