Harvard national history

The Glass Flowers

Who created the Glass Flowers?

Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka

When were they made?

from 1886 - 1936

What feature of an angiosperm is typically reflected in the structure of the flower (# of sepals, petals, stamens, pistils, etc.)?

often, 2 sepals are present, 1 pistol (includes stigma, style, and ovary, 5 petals, and 2 stamens (includes anther & filament

Which glass flower is the most interesting to you and why?

The Anacardium occidentale, or cashew tree (found in tropical America) was most interesting. This is because of the unique shape of its longitudinal section of the ovary which stood out among other flowers with similar sections shapewise. Additionally, it was fascinating to see the model of the flower with the cashew plant as I had never seen it before. 

Evolution

The diversity of life past/present is a result of

evolution

the most powerful driver of evolutionary change is

natural selection

variation is a product of ____________ and _____________________

mutation and natural selection

all living things hold about ______ genes in common.

500 genes

the closest living relatives of humans are ________________

chimpanzees

When changing environmental conditions or extinction events offer new ecological opportunities, some groups of organisms diversify dramatically. This is known as ….

evolutionary radiations

__________ _________ is when species with different ancestries are confronted with the same environmental challenges, and in response evolve in similar ways.

convergent evolution

Why is the discovery of Tiktaalik roseae important?

provides new evidence documenting an initial stage of the evolutionary transition from water to land

Sea Creatures in Glass

What major animal groups are represented by these intricate models? (4)

1. cnidaria

2. mollusca

3. annelida

4. echinodermata

Arthropods: Creatures that Rule

what are the 5 lineages of Arthropods?

1. Pyconogonida

2. chelicerata

3. myriapoda

4. crustacea

5. hexapoda

to which group do 85% of all known arthropods belong?

Hexapoda

the only flying arthropods are the ________________

Hexapods (insects)

From what single ancestral appendage did all arthropod appendages descend?

the forked (biramous) limb

Into what structures has this appendage been modified?

This appendage has been modified into walking legs, claws, mouthparts, antennae, and spider spinnerets (all variations on the original design)

To what is the evolutionary success of arthropods due?

The evolutionary success is due to the astounding adaptability of the arthropod body design - which are modular (constructed of repeating parts or segments).

Which 2 groups of Arthropods operate as “superorganisms” on every continent except Antarctica?

ants & termites

Members of these 2 groups of “superorganisms” communicate with others of their species using chemicals known as

pheromones

who are the main predators of termites?

ants

How many specimens did David Rockefeller have in his “Basement Beetle Room” of his family’s New York estate?

150,000

the fossil record

When did ungulates and other mammals begin to diversify?

They began to diversify after the extinction of large Mesozoic reptiles 65 million years ago.

What is an Artiodactyla?

Ungulates that walk on an even number of toes such as sheep, deer, pigs and camels: include a majority of hoofed mammals (over 190 species); they share several unique limb characteristics designed to improve running speed and efficiency. 

the evolving horse

What did the first horse look like

Small forest-dwellers had relatively short limbs, walked on 3 or 4 padded toes, and browsed on leaves, seeds, and fruit

What changes in the number of toes and the development of cheek teeth occurred as the         horse we know today evolved?

Modern horse - (name)

toes =

cheek teeth =

ancient horse - (name)

toes =

cheek teeth =

Modern horse - Equus

toes = a single toe (adapted for speed, and possessed long limbs)

cheek teeth = Pliocene (first Equus) a new horse adapted for life on the open plains was equipped with very durable, high-crowned (hypsodont) teeth.

ancient horse - Orohippus

toes = walked on four toes in the front and three in the back

cheek teeth = relatively simple teeth

*the case containing the giant animals of South America

Who discovered the 1st specimen of Toxodon ~

What is the mammalian equivalent of the turtle and cousin to the armadillo ~

When did these animals disappear ~

What did ground sloths eat ~

charles darwin

glyptodont

disappeared from South and North America 10,000-15,000 years ago.

ground sloths ate trees, by hauling down higher leaves/twigs with their large claws

To what group of animals do the Mastodons belong

Proboscidea ~ the ungulate family that includes elephants and their relatives

What did Mastodons eat?

Mastodons were generalized browsers with a varied diet of mosses, bog, plants, leaves, twigs, conifer cones, and some grasses.

Which is more closely related to modern true elephants?   Mammoth   or Mastadon

mammoth

exhibit on Ungulates

what were the first “even-toed” ungulates like?

rabbit-sized forest dwellers that appear in the fossil record about 55 million years ago during the early Eocene

Romer Vertebrate Paleontology Room

How long ago did the first fish evolve?

late Cambrian (515 million years ago)

The first mammals evolved and dinosaurs dominated the earth between

252 million years ago and 66 million years ago

Probably the most famous animal in this room is not a fossil.  It is the preserved Coelocanth.

• What feature of the Coelocanth indicates its relationship to land animals?

paired pectoral and pelvic fins supported by bones like those in our own arms and legs

Where was the Kronosaur skeleton discovered?

Queensland, Australia

Examine the bones in the front flipper. How many “fingers” do you see?

5

Life Sciences Exhibits - there are traditionally 7 major groups of Vertebrates. They are:

Agnatha:                 Jawless fishes (60 species)

Chondrichthyes:      Cartilagenous fishes (625 species; sharks, skates, rays, etc.)

Osteichthyes:          Bony fishes (22,000 species; trout, tuna, salmon, clownfish, cod, etc.)

Amphibia:               Frogs, salamanders (2500 species)

Reptilia:                  Snakes, lizards, turtles (6000 species)

Aves:                       Birds (8600 species)

Mammalia:              Mammals (4500 species)

While it shares species with both North and South America, large-scale exchanges are prevented by the biological bottleneck that is…

[central america ← aasees’s answer]

preventing large scale changes

The ________________________ accounts for half of the world’s remaining rainforests and the highest concentration of biodiversity on Earth.

amazon rainforest

____________ covers 30% of the Earth’s land area and is home to 60% of the world’s human population putting many important species at risk of extinction.

Asia

Marine Life

At least 50% of all photosynthetic activity on Earth is carried out by marine ________________ that together with algae (seaweeds) produce 50 – 85% of the world’s oxygen.

phytoplankton

What 4 human-sponsored factors have combined to threaten the viability of many regionally important marine species?

1. overfishing

2. rising atmospheric CO2

3. pollution

4. invasive animals sive animals (harm or threaten)

The structure that allows a bony fish to maintain position in the water column is the

_____________________________.

swim bladder

Sharks, rays and chimeras are distinguished from other fishes by a skeleton of ___________ rather than bone.  Bony supports in the form of spines or rays are important to the ____________________, which are the greatest in number and diversity of all fishes.

 

calcified cartilage

ray-finned fishes

Great Mammal Hall

What are the only mammals capable of true flight?

bats

The skin that stretches between the elongated fingers and radial bones and the sides of the body is the _____________________________. Megabats navigate by ______________________ while microbats navigate at night by  __________________________.

Pangolins are highly specialized for a diet of ________________ and _________________. Their tongue muscles are so long that they pass through the stomach and attach to the ________________.

patagium; large eyes (sight); echolocation; ants and termites; pelvis

What feature is characteristic of all members of the Order Carnivora?

large pointed teeth, double chambered auditory system

*specialized cutting teeth

Antelopes belong to the family Bovidae which also includes ___________________,

_______________________ and _____________________.

Bovids have permanent horns made of _____________________________________________.

cattle; sheep; goats; keratin

who do the primates include?

gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, humans, gibbons

• apes, monkeys, tarsiers

Who does the Primate superfamily Hominoidea include? (there are 5 groups).

1. lemurs, lorises, galagos

2. tarsiers

3. new world monkeys

4. old world monkeys

5. great apes gibbons

*other answer (given by coco and chatgpt

1. gibbons

2. orangutans

3. gorilla

4. chimpanzees

5. humans

Besides eating, what other purpose might teeth serve?

method of defense (protection)

All species of Cervidae grow antlers except the

Chinese water deer

Locate the specimen of the Chinese water deer.  Look at the very prominent front teeth of this animal. 

- What do you suppose is their purpose?

killing prey/grabbing food

“Rodentia” is derived from a Latin verb that means

to gnaw

Notice the hamster skeleton.

         - What purpose do you think the pouches serve?

carrying food

Proceed up the stairs to the balcony where you will find displays on Birds of the World.  Birds are the most diverse group of land vertebrates.

  - How many species of birds are there?

 

  - The most distinguishing feature of birds is their _____________________________?

  - The most abundant and varied order of living birds is the ____________________________

10,000 species

capacity for flight

land birds ← Aasees

Passerins ← coco

name 2 features scientists use in constructing bird phylogeny?

1. skeletons

2. genome sequencing

Look at the three whale skeletons hanging from the ceiling.  Whales evolved from land animals.  Notice in particular the two small bones suspended near the tails of the sperm and finback whales.  These are vestigial remnants of appendages found in the evolutionary ancestors of whales.

         - Of which part of a land animal are these bones a remnant?

 

         - What do right whales feed on?

hippopotamus ← Aasees

pelvis ← Coco

fishes and other marine mammals

*tiny fishes & invertebrates

New England Forest

Forest wetlands with their tremendous diversity and productivity include such habitats as:

1. vernal pools

2. wet meadows

3. marshes

4. bogs

New England forests face threats from:

1. deforestation

2. development

3. invasive species

4. climate change

To which two amphibian species are springtime vernal pools absolutely critical?

1. wood frogs

2. red spotted newts

The primary decomposers of dead leaves and wood in the forest are

fungi and bacteria

Old growth forests are those that have been undisturbed for more than __________ years, and are home to such large mammal species as ____________, _______________,

________________ and _______________.

Old growth forests are those that have been undisturbed for more than ___150________ years, and are home to such large mammal species as Black Bear_, ____Gray Wolf_____,

______Eastern Cougar______ and _____Woodland caribou____.

Africa

The largest ecological zone in Africa is the

Savanna

The richest concentration of grazing mammals in the world is found in the

Savanna

The primary agent of change in Africa and around the world is

Human Activities

The key to Madagascar’s distinctive biological diversity is

Geographical isolation

where are most of Africa’s tropical forests found?

In the Congo Basin of Central Africa.