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Questions and Answers
What causes extinction of a species according to the content?
What causes extinction of a species according to the content?
What is natural selection?
What is natural selection?
What is a mutation?
What is a mutation?
How does genetic drift affect a population?
How does genetic drift affect a population?
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What is the primary mechanism by which species evolve over time?
What is the primary mechanism by which species evolve over time?
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Which of the following best describes gene flow?
Which of the following best describes gene flow?
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Which statement best describes the timeline of evolution?
Which statement best describes the timeline of evolution?
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How do climate changes affect evolution?
How do climate changes affect evolution?
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What is a potential consequence of rapid global warming on species like polar bears?
What is a potential consequence of rapid global warming on species like polar bears?
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Which of these types of mutations can occur?
Which of these types of mutations can occur?
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What role do heritable characteristics play in evolution?
What role do heritable characteristics play in evolution?
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In what climate do trees with medium roots (M) thrive according to the example provided?
In what climate do trees with medium roots (M) thrive according to the example provided?
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What role does adaptation play in natural selection?
What role does adaptation play in natural selection?
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What could lead to an increase in certain gene variants in a population?
What could lead to an increase in certain gene variants in a population?
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What does the process of evolution by natural selection primarily explain?
What does the process of evolution by natural selection primarily explain?
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Which of the following statements about species diversity in biomes is true?
Which of the following statements about species diversity in biomes is true?
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What type of natural selection favors the norm while selecting against extremes?
What type of natural selection favors the norm while selecting against extremes?
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Which adaptation allows an individual to survive by affecting its physical features over time?
Which adaptation allows an individual to survive by affecting its physical features over time?
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Which type of natural selection targets the extremes while favoring intermediate forms?
Which type of natural selection targets the extremes while favoring intermediate forms?
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What concept describes the total number of genes and traits among individuals of a population?
What concept describes the total number of genes and traits among individuals of a population?
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Which of the following is a behavioral adaptation that can occur rapidly?
Which of the following is a behavioral adaptation that can occur rapidly?
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Which of the following populations is more likely to adapt effectively to environmental changes?
Which of the following populations is more likely to adapt effectively to environmental changes?
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Which of these adaptations is primarily learned rather than instinctive?
Which of these adaptations is primarily learned rather than instinctive?
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How many identified species are estimated to exist on Earth, alongside the potentially undiscovered species?
How many identified species are estimated to exist on Earth, alongside the potentially undiscovered species?
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Study Notes
Biomes and Biodiversity
- Biomes are large communities defined by climate, including temperature and precipitation patterns. These patterns also shape the organisms and vegetation adapted to live in those areas.
- Biomes are a large geographic area where ecosystems are similar.
- Objectives for the lecture include identifying abiotic and biotic components, understanding factors that affect life within a biome, recognizing biodiversity within biomes and their resilience to change, and identifying threats to Earth's biomes.
Abiotic Factors
- Abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical components of the environment, crucial for life.
- Inorganic compounds, lacking carbon-hydrogen bonds, are key abiotic components.
- Abiotic factors impact organism survival, growth, reproduction, and influence the types and numbers of species that thrive in a biome.
- Examples include air (oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen), water, sunlight, soil minerals, and humidity.
Biotic Factors
- Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem, composed of carbon-hydrogen compounds.
- Biotic factors have both direct and indirect impacts on a biome, affecting interactions within the ecosystem (e.g., predation, food chains, waste cycles, disease).
- Examples include viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants, animals, insects, and parasites.
- Organic molecules like DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates are also considered biotic components.
Hierarchy of Life on Earth
- Organism: A single living individual.
- Population: Organisms of the same species that can breed and produce offspring.
- Community: Many different species interacting.
- Ecosystem: A community of organisms interacting with their abiotic components.
- Biome: Extensive ecosystems that occupy large geographic regions.
What is a Biome?
- Biomes are defined by global climate patterns.
- Long-term temperature and precipitation patterns define the types of organisms found in each biome.
What is Climate?
- Climate is long-term patterns of weather, occurring over decades or centuries.
- Temperature and precipitation are the main controlling factors.
Major Factors Controlling Climate
- Temperature - Location determines if a biome is hot, warm, or cold.
- Precipitation - Amount of water in an area.
- Tilt of Earth on its axis - Causes seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter).
- Sun - Primary energy source for Earth's climate.
- Latitude - Distance from the equator affects temperature.
- Elevation - Higher altitudes are typically colder.
- Mountain ranges/landforms - Impact how precipitation, moisture, temperature and other elements are affected.
- Ocean currents - Influence temperatures along coastlines.
- Winds - Direct moving elements that can influence how weather and temperature is disbursed.
- Vegetation - Plants absorb moisture from the air affecting the climate.
- Human activity - Deforestation, burning fossil fuels and urbanization can have an influence.
Climograph
- A climograph is a graph that displays monthly average temperature and precipitation data for a location.
- Climographs are an easy way to visualize the location's climate.
Earth's 4 Seasons
- Earth's tilt on its axis causes seasons as the sun's direct rays shift throughout the year.
- March/September = equal sunlight on both hemispheres.
- June = Direct sunlight on Northern Hemisphere
- December = Direct sunlight on Southern Hemisphere
Biome Types
- A global map displays a variety of biomes (ice sheet and polar desert, tundra, taiga, temperate broadleaf forest, etc.)
- Biomes are categorized based on their dominant vegetation types.
Earth's Biomes
- The exact number of biomes is debatable, dependent on classification methods used.
- Differences in climate create distinct biome characteristics.
- Transition zones (ecotones) exist between biomes, where characteristics are shared.
- Climate change causes biome shifts
Three Broad Categories of Biomes
- Marine
- Freshwater
- Terrestrial
Climate
- Temperature and precipitation define Earth's biomes.
- Temperature variations occur with latitude and altitude.
- Temperature in general decreases with increased altitude.
Whittaker's Biome-Types
- Whittaker's biome-types are categorized by climate and vegetation patterns.
- Biomes such as tropical rainforests are hot and wet, while tundras are cold and dry.
Vegetation in Biomes
- Vegetation type is based on climate, precipitation, latitude, altitude, animal species, etc.
- Each biome requires understanding species interactions and nutrient needs within.
- Organisms are adapted to live within temperatures of a particular range.
Forces of Evolution
- Mutation: DNA sequence changes.
- Gene Flow: Movement of genetic variation between populations.
- Genetic Drift: Change in gene frequency due to random mating.
- Natural Selection: Favors better-adapted organisms, leading to greater reproduction amongst those with traits suited to the prevailing conditions.
Evolution by Natural Selection
- Natural selection is a slow process occurring over thousands to millions of years.
- Climate change drives the evolution of a species.
- Extinction occurs when climate changes to a degree impossible for organisms to adapt to.
Natural Selection Types
- Stabilizing selection: Favors the norm, selects against extremes.
- Directional selection: Continuously favors an extreme form.
- Disruptive selection: Favors two extremes, selects against the intermediate form.
Adaptation
- Adaptation = characteristic allowing an organism to survive and reproduce in a specific biome.
- Populations within a biome often have shared adaptations.
- Adaptations may involve physical changes or behavior changes.
Physical Adaptations
- These adapt to physical features or traits such as shape, color, coverings, movement, and size.
- Adaptations depend on the changing environment in the biome.
- Examples: webbed feet, strong beaks, camouflage, and scales.
Behavioral Adaptations
- Adapt to activities performed for survival and reproduction, dependent on the environment in the biome.
- Adapting to activities such as defense mechanisms, migration, hibernation, and mating dances/calls.
- Instincts or learned behavior can help drive adaptation.
Genetic Diversity
- Genetic diversity is important for long-term adaptation and growth of populations.
- Greater diversity allows for greater resilience to future changes.
Biodiversity, Hotspots and ecosystem services
- Biodiversity: The variety of life on Earth.
- Biodiversity hotspot: Areas with high biodiversity but also high endangerment of species.
- Ecosystem services: Essential natural processes that support human life.
- Managed ecosystems: Include farms, croplands, rangelands, aquaculture, etc., which also require maintenance of diversity.
- Human activities affect both natural ecosystems and their service provisions.
- Human health: Many medicines have origins in natural substances.
- Agriculture: Wild species gene adaptation and diversity contributes to future domestic species' food supply.
Major Threats to Biodiversity
- Habitat loss.
- Overharvesting of natural resources.
- Pollution.
- Invasive species.
- Climate change.
- Human population growth.
- Other human activities such as urbanization, logging, and agriculture.
21st Century Ecological Sensitivity
- Degree to which ecosystems can adapt to future climate change.
- Human impact and future climate change can have dramatic impacts.
Extinction Rates
- Current extinction rates are significantly higher than the background rate.
- Human actions contribute to higher rates of extinction.
How can we protect and preserve biodiversity?
- Pass legislation and treaties.
- Restore damaged environments.
- Set aside protected areas.
- Regulate human activity in these areas.
- Protect individual species through captive breeding programs.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the principles of evolution, natural selection, and genetic concepts. This quiz covers key topics like extinction causes, mutation types, and the effects of climate change on species. Dive into the mechanisms that drive evolution and assess your understanding of these essential biological concepts.
