Charles Darwin

anatomical evidence

To compare the anatomy of organisms to see how closely related they are to each other.

geographical evidence.

evidence based on characteristics of a habitat or land area

phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree

a branching diagram or "tree" showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species or other entities—their phylogeny—based upon similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

Alfred Russel Wallace

British naturalist who developed a hypothesis of natural selection similar to Darwin's

Charles Darwin

English naturalist. He studied the plants and animals of South America and the Pacific islands, and in his book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859) set forth his theory of evolution.

Charles Lyell

proposed that the laws of nature are constant over time and the changes we witness today acted on the earth millions of years ago

Thomas Robert Malthus

population is the result of available resources for sustenance

natural selection

A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment.

variation

Any difference between individuals of the same species.

vestigial structures

remnant of a structure that may have had an important function in a species' ancestors, but has no clear function in the modern species.

Species changing globally, locally, and time

Evolution

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

proposed that organisms acquired or lost traits during their lifetime by "use or disuse" of those traits

In evolution by natural selection nature determines which traits are passed on to the next generation, but with artificial selection humans decide which traits are passed on.

true

During a study session about evolution, one of your fellow students remarks, "The giraffe stretched its neck while reaching for higher leaves; its offspring inherited longer necks as a result." Which statement is most likely to be helpful in correcting this student's misconception?

Characteristics acquired during an organism's life are generally not passed on to their offspring.

Darwin's concept of evolution was NOT influenced by

knowledge of DNA

Flightless birds such as the emu in Australia, the rhea in South America, and the ostrich in Africa represent which pattern of biodiversity?

species vary globally

Scientists before Darwin had proposed that living things could change over time. Why was Darwin's theory of evolution more powerful and useful than the proposals of the other scientists?

Darwin cited examples from nature that were based on observations.

Which TWO (2) observations involving biogeography were important to Darwin's thinking?

Closely related species can evolve diverse adaptations in different environments. & Distantly related species can evolve similar adaptations if they live in similar environments or face similar struggles.