FORS2355 Vertebrate Natural History
Exam 1 Study Guide (Exam: 9/27/21)
Covers: Lectures 1-7
Lectures 1-2
1. 4 Components to the definition of evolution a. Descent with modification b. Change in gene frequencies C. Rate of evolution can be fast or slow d. Does not occur in linear fashion 2. List and describe the mechanisms of evolution a. Mutation -- changes in DNA sequence b. Meiotic drive -- segregation distortion during meiosis C. Gene flow -- migration d. Genetic drift -- random shifts in gene frequencies e. Natural selection -- differential reproductive success 3. What are the events in the process of natural selection? a. The environment changes b. Organisms produce far more offspring than are capable of surviving C. Some of those offspring posses traits which are better suited for the current environmental conditions than others. d. Those offspring better adapted to current environmental conditions will survive to reproduction ttthus passes their genes on to future generations) 4. Describe the unit of selection for an individual and a population when discussing the mechanisms of evolution. a. Individual -- the individual organism either survives and successfully reproduces or not. b. Population -- group of individuals of the same species that have the potential to interbreed; change in gene frequencies over time. 5. In the organisms, statements are made based on observed relationships 6. What is the difference between Phenetic classifications and Phylogenetic classifications? a. Phenetic Classifications -- based only on similarities and do not necessarily reflect genealogy b. Phylogenetic Classifications -- classifications do reflect genealogy ttevolutionary history) 7. Write the taxonomic hierarchy in order from greatest to smallest. a. Kingdom b. Phylum C. Class d. Order e. Genus f. Species 8. Compare/contrast Linnaeus' system of classification with Willi Hennig's Phylogenetic Systematics/Cladistics; define clade and phylogeny.
a. Linnaeus' system of classification was naming the animals by their taxonomy with binomial nomenclature, which was a 2-part Latin name - a Genus and a specific epithet and that no two species have the same binomial epithet. Was based on the similarities among species. b. Willi Hennig's system of classification was more focused on how animals were evolutionary related. He created cladograms, which represent how closely groups of animals were related to each other and trace evolutionary history of the group. Define clades only on basis of derived characters ttex: different ancestral condition). When there is a new branching off, there is a new clade =different from ancestral condition. 9. Define Apomorphic character -- the descendent character derived from the ancestral condition. Used to find new clade ttdifferent from ancestor). 10. Define Synapomorphic character - shared, derived character 11. Define Plesiomorphic character - ancestral character, unaltered from ancestral condition = did not change. 12. Define Symplesiomorphic character -- ancestral character found in one than more lineage -- shared across multiple lineages ttfishes -> mammals). 13. Define Cladistics -- emphasizes importance of monophyletic evolutionary origin. 14. Define Monophyletic/Monophyly - ancestor and all of its descendants. 15. Define Monotypic species -- ancestor and all of its descenda