evolution Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is the term for the process by which species change over time?
Evolution
Which scientist is most famously associated with the theory of evolution?
Charles Darwin
True or False: Evolution occurs only through natural selection.
False
Fill in the blank: The __________ period is known for the emergence of mammals.
Mesozoic
What is the name of the era that began 541 million years ago and is characterized by the proliferation of complex life forms?
Phanerozoic
Which period is known as the ‘Age of Reptiles’?
Mesozoic
What significant event marks the end of the Mesozoic Era?
The mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs
True or False: The Paleozoic Era is characterized by the dominance of flowering plants.
False
What major evolutionary development occurred during the Cambrian period?
The Cambrian explosion of life forms
What is the geological time scale?
A system of chronological dating that relates geological strata to time.
Which era follows the Paleozoic Era?
Mesozoic Era
Fill in the blank: The __________ period is known for the first appearance of birds.
Jurassic
What does the term ‘extinction’ refer to in evolutionary biology?
The end of an organism or species’ existence.
Which period is known for the dominance of dinosaurs?
Cretaceous
True or False: The Cenozoic Era is often referred to as the ‘Age of Mammals.’
True
What is the significance of the Ordovician period in evolution?
It saw the first evidence of land plants.
What major event occurred during the Permian period?
The largest mass extinction in Earth’s history.
What is the primary mechanism of evolution according to Darwin?
Natural selection
Fill in the blank: The __________ period is known for the first vertebrates.
Cambrian
Which time period is characterized by the first multicellular organisms?
Ediacaran period
What does ‘adaptive radiation’ refer to?
The rapid evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor.
Which period is known for the first appearance of flowering plants?
Cretaceous
True or False: The Triassic period is part of the Mesozoic Era.
True
What is meant by ‘punctuated equilibrium’ in evolutionary theory?
The theory that evolution occurs in rapid bursts followed by long periods of stability.
