evolution in real time and conservation

Question 1

what is evolution in real time?

Answer 1

evolution in action and on time scales we can choose

Question 2

macro-evolution is…

Answer 2

patterns of evol change above a species level
slow and gradual
e.g. evolution of new phyla

Question 3

micro evolution is…

Answer 3

changes within a species
very small changes that can happen very rapidly
e.g. peppered moth

Question 4

rapid evolutionary change is driven by…

Answer 4

competition
exploitation
climate change
parasites

Question 5

competition drives… by….

Answer 5

natural selection within and between species (enhancement of characteristics e.g. bill/small beak size)
by intra (within) and inter (between) specific competitions

Question 6

evolution is…. likely to occur than extinction because….

Answer 6

less likely because extinction is faster

Question 7

Darwin’s finches

Answer 7

inter species competition forced them to inhabit different niches

Question 8

hybridization

Answer 8

when two genomes combine and offspring is not viable to reproduce with either parents’ genomes
v fast speciation

Question 9

Grant and Grant studied…

Answer 9

changes in bill size in response to competition between G.Fortis and G.Magnirostris
rates of change were v close to predicted from heritability of the trait

Question 10

Exploitation is….

Answer 10

Artificial selection
works in the same way at nat. sel.
v fast evolutionary response

Question 11

describe and explain the point on the g. fortis beak size/ year graph for

a) drought
b) competitor established
c) competition increase

Answer 11

a) sharp declines in beak size - smaller seeds are more available
b) gradual decline - competitor has advantage
c) rise of competitor and drought combined

Question 12

selective hunting 2 examples and effects

Answer 12

big horned sheep - largest animals selected and shot, removes genes from gene pool
leads to reduction in animal size and horn length, fluctuations in population size

larger cod fished for - smaller fish/ growth rate ang younger sexual maturity selected for

Question 13

Climate change effect on animals

Answer 13

organisms evolve to one set of conditions but they are changing v quickly and cant evolve fast enough so going locally extinct ;((
causing change of distribution e.g. birds in uk

Question 14

phenology define, effect and example

Answer 14

timing of life history events during the course of a year
is being disrupted due to climate change
ensures survival and reproduction
british flowers are flowering earlier and earlier as is better to flower early in poor env.

Question 15

co-evolution with parasites is… , example

Answer 15

fast
rabbits(pest) and myxoma virus (introduced to control)
effectiveness decreased the more times virus was introduced 99-90-40/60
virulence stabilized at a lower level

Question 16

selection pressures host and parasite

Answer 16

parasite pressure to be less deadly so can spread more

rabbit pressure to have higher resistance

Question 17

measles vs flu

Answer 17

measles- no selection, random spreading

flu- reflects nat. sel. (undergoes selection and mutation)

Question 18

consequences of change

Answer 18

reduce population size
extinction of population and species
loss of ecosystems

Question 19

PNC

Answer 19

phylogenetic niche conservation

Question 20

conservatism results form…

Answer 20

low rates of adaptability and evolution in phylogenetically similar groups (important in PNC)

Question 21

IUCN threat

Answer 21

measure of how likely populations are to become extinct in coming years
purvis et al 2006
Uses statistical analysis to compare threats and Life history & ecological variables

Question 22

correlations with extinction threat - carnivores

Answer 22

Geographic range
Gestation time
Trophic level
Human footprint

Question 23

correlation with extinction threat - primates

Answer 23

Geographic range size
Body Size
Population density
Human density

Question 24

is phylogeny a good indicator of extinction threat? explain

Answer 24

YES
Geographic range size - no
Body Size                      - yes
Gestation time              - yes
Trophic level                 - yes
IUCN threat                  - yes

Question 25

Cooper, Freckleton & Jetz (2011) Proc. B.

Measured & compared rates of evolution across groups and over the globe and found that…

Answer 25

Evolution is faster outside of the tropics

Niche conservatism greater in the tropics

Question 26

Phylogenetic diversity - define

Answer 26

total amount of history shared by a group of species

Question 27

EDGE project

Answer 27

evolutionary distinct and globally endangered
conservation planning informed by evolution
takes into account levels of endangerment and evolutionary distinction

Question 28

phylogenetic diversity correlates with…

Answer 28

genetic and functional diversity

Question 29

species

Answer 29

population whose members have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring but not with members of other groups

Question 30

biological barriers causes…. , types and e.g

Answer 30

reproductive isolation
geographic - v big river
behavioural - matting patterns e.g. song
temporal - time of mating

Question 31

gene flow

Answer 31

exchange of genes between populations as a result of movement and interbreeding of individuals

Question 32

speciation is caused by…….. and ……..

Answer 32

Divergence and Reproductive isolation

Question 33

Allopatric speciation:

Answer 33

Geographic isolation & reproductive isolation first, then divergence.

Question 34

Sympatric speciation:

Answer 34

Divergence first, then reproductive isolation (behavioural)

Question 35

post zygotic isolation

Answer 35

when two members of different species mate and offspring is unable to mate

Question 36

prezygotic isolation define and causes

Answer 36

prevent fertilization
block mating
unsuccessful mating
unsuccessful fertilization

Question 37

sympatry

Answer 37

no separation