Biology final review(dichotomous key, cladogram, Niche, Habitat, Way to classify a skull )

dichotomous key, cladogram, Niche, Habitat, Way to classify a skull

What is a dichotomy?

Dividing a group into 2 with contradicting (opposite) characteristics is a dichotomy.

What is a dichotomous key?

Dividing a group into 2 with contradicting (opposite) characteristics If you continue dividing this way until every individual of the collection is by itself a dichotomous key has been created.

What is cladistic analysis?

a process of evolutionary classification that most biologists use

What do you use to do cladistic analysis?

This points out derived characters -that is done by something called a cladogram.

What is Phylogeny?

Phylogeny is the study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.

What is evolutionary classification?

Evolutionary classification is the strategy of grouping organisms together based on their evolutionary history

What does Cladistic analysis identify?

Cladistic analysis identifies those characteristics of organisms that are evolutionary innovations/new characteristics that arise as lineages evolve over time.

What is a derived character?

A derived character is a characteristic that has appeared in recent parts of a lineage but not in its older members.

What is a cladogram?

A cladogram is a diagram that shows evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms.

What do longer lines in a cladogram indicate?

THE LONGER THE LINE = LONGER THE TIME

What does the diagonal line indicate in a cladogram?

DIAGONAL LINES = CHANGE

What is a clade?

a group composed of a single ancestor and all its descendants

what can help you determine what food an animal ate by looking at the skull?

the teeth.

How do you know if an animal was a herbivore by looking at the teeth?

Teeth that are relatively flat are for grinding and chewing plant material.

What is a herbivore?

An animal that only eats plants is called a herbivore

What is a carnivore?

An animal that eats other animals is called a carnivore.

How can you tell is an animal was a carnivore by the skull?

Teeth that are sharp/pointy are for ripping and tearing meat.

What is an omnivore?

An animal that eats other animals and also eats plants is called an omnivore.

How do you know if an animal was a omnivore by looking at a skull?

Some Teeth that are relatively flat are for grinding and chewing plant material and some Teeth that are sharp/pointy are for ripping and tearing meat.

How do you know if an animal was active during the day or night by looking at the skull?

By the size of the eye sockets

what size eye sockets would an animal have if it was nocturnal?

Large eye sockets accommodate large eyes. Large eyes let in more light, what time of day is there less light? When would the animal might need to let in more light - At night

what does nocturnal mean?

An animal that is more active during the night is nocturnal.

what does diurnal mean?

An animal that is more active during the day is Diurnal .

what size eye sockets would an animal have if it was dirunal?

Small eye sockets accommodate smaller eyes. Small eyes let in less light, what time of day is there more light? When would the animal might need to let in less light- During the day.

What does crepuscular mean?

An organism that is most active at dusk is called Crepuscular.

How do you know if an animal is crepuscular by looking at the skull?

Not always can you get a GREAT idea about this just from looking at eye sockets! There are some organisms that are more active at dawn and/or dusk, it becomes not ONLY about the amount of light but also what they eat is available –either because of competition, predator avoidance, or even sleeping patterns.

How do you determine whether an animal is a prey or predator by looking at the skull?

By looking at the location of the eye socket

what is a predator?

a carnivorous animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals in order to survive

How do you know if an animal is a predator by looking at the skull?

Eyes located in front of the skull are for depth perception which are needed by predators – for hunting

What is a Prey?

an animal caught, killed, and eaten by another animal as food

How do you know if an animal is a prey by looking at the skull?

Eyes on the side of the skull are more for peripheral vision, good peripheral vision is needed by prey animals.

How can you determine what type of environment an animal lived in by looking at the skull?

by looking at the Location of spinal cord and location of nostrils

what is an aquatic organism?

lives just in water

What is an Amphibious?

an organism that is suited for both land and water

How do you know if an organism is aquatic by looking at the skull?

Nostrils on the top of the head allow an organism to breathe easier during flight and in the water.

What indicates if the body is horizontal?

A spinal cord that comes out the back of the skull indicates a body style that is horizontal.

What indicates if a body vertical?

If the spinal cord comes out the base of the skull it would indicate a body that is vertical

What helps you tell the body style of an animal by looking at the skull?

Where the spinal cord comes out can tell you about the body style

What is a habitat?

The type of place, the environment, the conditions, the biotic and abiotic factors, where an individual lives

What is a niche?

the full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives AND the way in which the organism uses those conditions.

The conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which it uses those conditions and determines its relations with other organisms are specific for each species.