Vertebrate Biology Review Flashcards

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering vertebrate diversity, taxonomy, economic/ecological importance, and species concepts based on lecture notes.

How many named species of living organisms currently exist?

2.1 million

How many vertebrate species have been named?

65,000

What percentage of all named species do vertebrates comprise?

About $3\%$

According to the transcript, why is the $3\%$ figure for vertebrate diversity considered a gross overestimate?

Because vertebrates are more conspicuous and well-studied compared to the vast number of unnamed species in other groups.

What are the three main reasons provided for dedicating an entire course to vertebrates despite their small numbers?

Charisma, Economics, and Ecology.

What are some examples of vertebrate meat consumed by omnivorous humans?

Fish, poultry, pork, beef, venison, and lamb.

Which critical non-vegan dietary components are derived from vertebrates?

Milk, eggs, and gelatin.

What materials are derived primarily from vertebrate animals?

Wool and leather.

Which multi-billion dollar industries are based on vertebrates?

Hunting, fishing, horseriding, and ecotourism.

What ecological role do vertebrates often serve within an ecosystem?

Ecosystem engineers.

Why do vertebrates have a disproportionately large impact on ecosystems relative to more abundant organisms?

They often function as top-predators or grazers.

What are some examples of the morphological and behavioral diversity found in vertebrates?

Tiny/enormous, carnivorous/herbivorous, monogamous/polygamous, and aquatic/terrestrial.

What is the primary mechanism that ultimately gives rise to new species?

Anything that causes reproductive isolation between populations within a species.

Approximately how many new species of vertebrates are described each year?

$$300$$

What is the name of the species considered to be the world's smallest vertebrate?

Paedophryne amauensis

What are the specific dimensions of the world's smallest vertebrate, Paedophryne amauensis?

$7\,\text{mm}$ ($0.27\,\text{inches}$) long.

In which country was the world's smallest frog recently discovered?

Papua New Guinea

In what remote location was a remarkable new monkey discovered?

Congo rainforest (specifically the TL2 area).

What is the fate of many primates taken from the TL2 forest according to John Hart?

They arrive as "heavily smoked and unrecognizable bushmeat" in centers like Kisangani.

In the 4th century BC, how did Aristotle classify animals?

By whether or not they had blood and whether they swam, walked, or flew.

How many primary taxonomic classifications are most widely used today?

$$8$$

What was the methodology used by Linnaeus to categorize organisms?

Lumping organisms based on similarity (similar looking species into same genus, etc.).

Which taxonomic designation is considered the only one that is "biologically defined"?

Species

What underlying assumption is now incorporated into taxonomy that differs from Linnaeus' method?

Patterns of descent (evolutionary history).

What is the average number of species per genus in frogs versus birds mentioned in the notes?

Frog genera contain ~$15$ species, while bird genera contain <$5$ species.

What does "operationality" refer to in the context of species concepts?

The practical application or how a species is defined and identified in biodiversity studies.

What are the five species concepts listed in the transcript?

Evolution, Biological, Phylogenetic, Concordance, and Cohesion.

What are the risks of sampling too few traits or organisms for the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC)?

It can lead to inaccurate conclusions about species boundaries and evolutionary relationships.

In phylogenetics, what principle determines which tree is most likely correct?

The tree that requires the smallest number of changes (parsimony).

What is a mammalian synapomorphy?

A shared derived character unique to mammals.

What is a mammalian symplesiomorphy?

A shared ancestral character that mammals share with more distant ancestors.

Can a trait shared by two species be neither a synapomorphy nor a symplesiomorphy?

Yes (it could be an instance of convergent evolution/homoplasy).

If an ancestor is extinct, how do scientists determine if it possessed a certain trait?

By using phylogenetic reconstruction and analyzing traits in extant descendants and fossils.

According to the notes, what happens to Linnaeus' methodology of lumping by appearance when descent patterns are considered?

It is thrown out in favor of systems that account for evolutionary history.

What is the primary question asked about the diversity found in vertebrates on Page 39?

How have evolutionary forces created all of this phenotypic diversity?