Unit 2 PAL Flashcards
(117 cards)
Who was Carl Linnaeus?
- Swedish botanist (1707-1778)
- Introduced binomial nomenclature, two part scientific name
- Revolutionized taxonomy
The science of classifying living things
taxonomy
study of the physical form or structure of an organism; anatomy, external structures, skeleton
morphology
the study of the evolutionary relationships among organisms
phylogeny
list 5 sources of information we use in phylogeny
- morphology
- paleontology
- behavior
- development
- molecular data
What can morphology tell us?
-more in common= closer evolutionary relationship
What are some limitations of morphology?
- difficult to compare distantly related species
- some variations are caused by the environment
What can paleontology tell us?
when and where an organism lived
What is a limitation of paleontology?
possible incomplete fossil record; fragmentary fossils
What can behavior tell us?
“active morphology”
-species with similar behavioral patterns may be more closely related
What is a limitation of behavior?
often learned, not genetic
What can developmental patterns tell us?
-some adult species may look totally different, but develop in similar ways (for ex- frog and sea squirt look similar when young)
What can molecular data tell us?
- DNA used to construct phylogenetic tree
- Mutation accumulate over time; fewer differences= closely related
What is a clade?
part of a phylogenetic tree that includes all species linked by descent from a common ancestor
monophyletic
clade
polyphyletic
missing common ancestor
paraphyletic
missing some descendants
What is a taxon?
any species or group of species that we designate or name
What is the biological species concept?
defines a species as a group of individuals/populations that can interbreed with one another and are reproductivly isolated from other such groups
What is reproductive isolation?
groups cannot reproduce with one another (can’t exchange genes)
What is allopatric speciation?
- occurs when populations are separated by a physical barrier
- dominant mode of speciation
- allo= other and patri= land
What is sympatric speciation?
without physical isolation
-sym= same
List 3 prezygotic isolation mechanisms
- mechanical
- behavioral
- temporal
mechanical
difference in size and shape of reproductive organs that makes mating impossible