Module 3: Biological Diversity

What is the name of the theory which describes evolution as patterns of rapid first appearances or extinctions followed by periods of little or no change?

Punctuated equilibrium

Darwin and Wallace proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Punctuated equilibrium differs from this theory in that punctuated equilibrium…

occurs in relatively short bursts of rapid change.

What best describes sympatric speciation?

The evolution of a new species from an ancestral species while both continue to inhabit the same geographical location.

What best describes convergent evolution?

Process where unrelated organisms evolve similar traits due to similar environments or pressures.

What best describes divergent evolution?

Process where related species evolve different traits.

What is an ecosystem?

Any given space containing living organisms interacting with each other and with the non-living parts of their environment.

What are the two types of ecosystems?

• Aquatic

• Terrestrial

What are some examples of abiotic factors affecting an organism’s survival?

• Temperature

• Light

• Water availability

• Oxygen availability

• Light availability

• pH

What are some examples of biotic factors affecting an organism’s survival?

• Feeding relationships

• Competition

• Mating

• Availability and abundance of food

• Number of predators

• Number of competitors

What best describes selection pressures?

Referes to factors that affect an organism’s ability to survive and determine the population of a species by “selecting against” individuals that aren’t suited to the environment.

What best describes structural adaptations?

A change involving the physical features or characteristics of an organism that enhance its ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

What best describes physiological adaptations?

Changes in the internal functioning of an organism’s organ system, organs, cells, and/or biomolecules which carry out the chemical and physical functions that exist in a living system.

What best describes behavioural adaptations?

Actions performed by an organism in response to a stimulus that improve its chances of survival.

What best describes natural selection?

Refers to the process by which environmental conditions, such as climate and food availability, favour specific characteristics in a population.

What did Charles Darwin observe when he arrived at the Galapagos Islands?

Charles Darwin observed that the finches of the Galapagos Islands differed depending on the island they lived on. He identified 14 distinct species, each with variations in beak shape and size.

What are the three levels of biological diversity?

1. Genetic

2. Species

3. Ecosystem

What best describes genetic diversity?

The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.

What best describes species diversity?

A measure of the diversity of different species in an ecological community.

What best describes the variation of different ecosystems found in a region?

The variation of different ecosystems found in a region.

What does Darwin’s Theory of Evolution suggest?

Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection suggests that species survive by acquiring traits most suitable for their environment.

Similar structures arising from convergent evolution of two different species are termed…?

analogous structures.

Differen structures arising from divergent evolution are termed…?

homologous structures.

What best describes gradualism?

The gradual process by which there is a genetic and physical change in a population as a result of environmental pressures.

What best describes microevolution?

Refers to small-scale changes within a species or population, driven by factors like natural selection, migration, and mutations. These changes occur over short periods and do not lead to the formation of new species.

What best describes macroevolution?

Process that results in change in whole groups of species over long periods, due to millions of years of microevolution. These changes occurs on a larer scale than individual species.

What best describes speciation?

Refers to the evolution new species from an already existing ancestral species.

What are the four types of speciation?

1. Allopatric

2. Peripatric

3. Sympatric

4. Parapatric

What best describes allopatric speciation?

Occurs when population becomes divided by a geographical barrier. Therefore, separated subpopulations are unable to interbreed.

What best describes peripatric speciation?

When small populations becomes isolated at edge of large population’s range. Over time, isolated population evolves distinct traits.

What best describes parapatric speciation?

Speciation where populations occupy neighbouring regions with gradual environmental gradient rather than strict geographic barrier.

What are some examples of geographical barriers that can lead to speciation?

• Continental drift

• Natural disaster events such as earthquakes

• Mountains rising

• Rivers changing course

Platypuses are _________, as they lay eggs and secrete milk through pores in skin.

monotreme

What best describes convergent evolution?

When organisms appear to have similar traits without sharing a common ancestor.

What best describes divergent evolution?

When organisms that share common ancestors evolve to have different features.

What is an example of why convergent evolution occurs?

Due to similarities in adaptation required to survive similar selection pressures in respective environments.

What is an example of why divergent evolution occurs?

Due to movement of new habitat, resulting in facing different selective pressures and evolving accordingly.

What are the types of evidence that supports the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?

• Biochemical

• Comparative anatomy

• Comparative embryology

• Biogeography

• Palaeontology

• Relative dating

• Absolute dating

What best describes biochemical evidence?

Refers to evidence such as DNA sequences, explaining similarities and relationships between different species.

What best describes comparative anatomy?

Refers to comparison of structures in different species as evidence for evolution. Similarities between structures suggest divergent evolution.

What best describes comparative embryology?

Comparison of the structure and features of embryos of different species.

What best describes biogeography?

Refers to study of geographical distribution of different species and how geographical distribution, and how geographical processes influenced these distributions.

What best describes palaeontology?

The study of fossils

What best describes relative dating?

Involves qualitative dating of fossils in comparison to other fossils based on stratigraphic position.

What best describes absolute dating?

Consists of various techniques allowing scientists to quantitatively determine an estimate of absolute age of fossil.