Fossil Form & Function

Question 1

morphology

Answer 1

study of shape
assists in taxonomy & understanding function of shape
shapes can be categorized by size or structure

Question 2

morphological species concept

Answer 2

recognition of subdivision of species based on external appearance
used to classify fossils because biological connections (through reproduction & DNA) cannot be made

Question 3

type specimen

Answer 3

species selected to represent all characteristic features of a species

Question 4

synonyms

Answer 4

redundant name(s) given to an organism that has already been named

Question 5

species variation

Answer 5

individuals in a species - similar genes
physical & actual genetic code are slightly different due to environmental factors
factors: temperature, geography

Question 6

geographic variation

Answer 6

differences of traits in different populations of a species across a geographic range
isolation or distance between populations

Question 7

sexual dimorphism

Answer 7

having 2 forms or having differences in morphology of male & female in a species
ex: female ammonites many times bigger than male

Question 8

growth stages

Answer 8

having different forms at different lifetimes

Question 9

ecophenotypic effect

Answer 9

having variation in growth (or structures) induced by environmental conditions
ex: coral may curve more by growing at strange angle after knocked down

Question 10

allometric growth

Answer 10

change in proportions during growth

Question 11

isometric growth

Answer 11

growth with identical proportion–same shape, just bigger

Question 12

functional morphology

Answer 12

structures of an organism that is essential or useful to its survival within its niche
ex: wings of bird - fly to gather food & escape predators