Lecture #9

Front 1

Explain Gradualism & Puncuated equilibrium:

Back 1

Gradualism: Slow but steady accumulation of minor changes that leads to a new species.
Punctuated Equlibrium: Brief, sudden bursts of accumulation of change followed by long periods of no change & equilibrium.

Front 2

Explain Anaenesis & Cladogenesis:

Back 2

Cladogenesis: 1) one part stays roughly the same.
2) 2 ver distinct groups with biological diversity as the gene pool is split => 2 separate species.
Anagenesis: A gradual accumulation of genetic change that morphs species to look different and have different characteristics. The old generation does not exist anymore.

Front 3

Explain the Alvarez hypothesis:

Back 3

An asteroid made of iridium hit the earth 65MYA, poisoning all the dinosaurs and making their prey go extinct as well as them.

Front 4

Explain the benefits of past mass extinctions:

Back 4

Brought on adaptive radiations.

Front 5

What are the 3 Driving Forces for extinction?

Back 5

Environmental Change, Habitat Destruction, Major Global Disruptions.

Front 6

Include an example for each driving force:

Back 6

Environmental Change:
New Competitor, Parasite, Herbivore, predator, disease.
Habitat Destruction:
Building homes, tearing down mainlands: Mountain Lions.
Major Global Disruptions:
Weather patterns: sunlight, temp, rainfall, etc.

Front 7

Explain what the characteristics are that can predispose a population to extinction:

Back 7

Over specialization & Local distribution

Front 8

Explain what extinction is:

Back 8

Death of all members of a species.