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Questions and Answers
What is adaptation in the context of organisms' survival and reproduction?
What is adaptation in the context of organisms' survival and reproduction?
What determines the fitness of an organism in its environment?
What determines the fitness of an organism in its environment?
What is the main driver of the process of natural selection?
What is the main driver of the process of natural selection?
What is a niche in the context of ecology?
What is a niche in the context of ecology?
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What is a characteristic of generalist species?
What is a characteristic of generalist species?
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What is a misconception about natural selection?
What is a misconception about natural selection?
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What is the hottest layer of the Earth?
What is the hottest layer of the Earth?
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What is the process of breaking down rocks and minerals into smaller particles?
What is the process of breaking down rocks and minerals into smaller particles?
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What is the theory that explains how Earth's continents were once joined together and have since drifted apart?
What is the theory that explains how Earth's continents were once joined together and have since drifted apart?
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What is the process of carrying away small particles by wind, water, or ice?
What is the process of carrying away small particles by wind, water, or ice?
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What is the term for the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay?
What is the term for the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay?
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What is the process of forming sediment layers through the deposition of particles carried by water?
What is the process of forming sediment layers through the deposition of particles carried by water?
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What is the term for the movement of the Earth's lithosphere divided into huge plates?
What is the term for the movement of the Earth's lithosphere divided into huge plates?
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What is the theory that explains how species adapt to their environment through natural selection?
What is the theory that explains how species adapt to their environment through natural selection?
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Study Notes
Earth's Structure and Composition
- Earth has three main layers: Crust (thin, solid outer layer), Mantle (solid shell from crust to 2900 km deep), and Core (hot, metal center)
- Lithosphere: combination of crust and top layer of mantle
- Geosphere: all three layers together
Early Earth Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
- Early atmosphere had minimal O2, mainly CO2, water vapor, and N2
- Small amounts of CO, H2S, HCN were present
- Water vapor cooled and condensed to form oceans, lakes, and the hydrosphere
Plate Tectonics and Geosphere Dynamics
- Lithosphere divided into huge plates with varying amounts of continental and oceanic crust
- Plate boundaries: Divergent (move apart), Convergent (move together), Transform (slide past each other)
- Mid-Ocean Ridges: upwelling in mantle brings hot rock to surface
- Subduction Zones: older part of ocean floor sinks, water drives out, and rock melts
- Mountain Building: two plates collide, oceanic crust sinks, and continental crust forms mountain ridges
Continental Drift Theory
- Continents were once joined as Pangaea and have since drifted apart
- Evidence: fit of continents, matching geological features, similar fossil distributions, and ancient climates found in rocks
Weathering and Erosion
- Weathering: physical and chemical processes breaking down rocks and minerals into smaller particles
- Erosion: small particles carried away by wind, water, or ice (e.g., salt minerals into oceans)
- Formation of sediment layers: particles carried by water and deposited in larger bodies of water
Sedimentary Rock and Fossils
- Sedimentary rock important in studying life history
- Law of Superposition: youngest rocks on top, oldest on bottom
- Half-life and absolute (radiometric) dating help determine age of samples
Evolution and Natural Selection
- Charles Darwin's Theory: Natural Selection
- Variation and Adaptation: inherited variation helps individuals survive and reproduce in their environment
- Adaptation: heritable characteristics increasing organism's ability to survive and reproduce
- Survival of the Fittest: fitness affected by adaptations
- Natural Selection: process by which organisms with suitable variations survive and leave offspring
- Environment influences fitness, varying among individuals
- Every species occupies its own niche (role in a community with physical and environmental conditions)
Species Niches
- Generalist: species with broad niche, adaptable to many environmental conditions
- Specialist: species with narrow niche, specialized to specific conditions
- Examples: Raccoons (generalist), Specialists (e.g., pandas)
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Description
Learn about the formation and structure of our planet, including the 3 main layers, atmosphere, and the dynamic geosphere. Discover the early atmosphere's composition and the creation of the hydrosphere.
