Natural Selection and Evolution - Part 8 (Week 9)

Question 1

Why are fossils important?

Answer 1

• can document important transitions

e. g. land to sea, in ancestors of cetaceans

Question 2

What is biogeography?

Answer 2

• the scientific study of the geographic distribution of species, provides evidence of evolution

Question 3

What does biogeography show?

Answer 3

• an understanding of continent movement + modern distribution of species allows us to predict when + where different groups evolved

Question 4

What are endemic species?

Answer 4

• species that are not found anywhere else in the world
• island have a lot of these species
• have species closely related to species on the nearest mainland/island

Question 5

Why are endemic species important?

Answer 5

• island have a lot of these species - have species closely related to species on the nearest mainland/island
• species from the mainland colonized islands + gave rise to new species as they adapted to new environments

Question 6

What Is Theoretical About Darwin’s View of Life?

Answer 6

• integrates diverse areas of biological study + stimulates many new research questions

Question 7

What is the summary of key concepts in natural selection?

Answer 7

1. a) individuals in a population vary in their heritable characteristics
   b) organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support
2. individuals that are well suited to their environment tend to leave more offspring than other individuals
3. Overtime, favourable traits accumulate in the population