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Chapter 4 - Evolution and Biodiversity

1) Evolution occurs through both microevolution, involving small genetic changes within a population over time, and macroevolution, involving large-scale genetic changes that can result in new species. 2) Natural selection is the process by which heritable traits that increase an individual's ability to survive and reproduce become more common in a population over generations. 3) Species evolve and adapt to their ecological niches, which include biotic and abiotic interactions within their habitat. Specialization in narrow niches can allow many species to coexist.

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James Abuya Betayo
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117 views26 pages

Chapter 4 - Evolution and Biodiversity

1) Evolution occurs through both microevolution, involving small genetic changes within a population over time, and macroevolution, involving large-scale genetic changes that can result in new species. 2) Natural selection is the process by which heritable traits that increase an individual's ability to survive and reproduce become more common in a population over generations. 3) Species evolve and adapt to their ecological niches, which include biotic and abiotic interactions within their habitat. Specialization in narrow niches can allow many species to coexist.

Uploaded by

James Abuya Betayo
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Evolution and

Biodiversity
Chapter 4
Evolution: All species
descended from earlier
ancestral species.

Changing genetic make-


up in a population over
time.

Accepted scientific
explanation of how
animals adapt and
survive
Evolution and Adaptation
• Macroevolution – long term, large scale changes
• Microevolution – small genetic changes
• Gene pool – all genes in a population
• Mutation – random change in structure of DNA.
Every so often, a mutation is beneficial for
survival.
• Natural selection – individuals that have traits
that benefit survival.
Natural Selection

• Microevolution is changes in the gene pool of


a population over time that result in changes to
the varieties of individuals in a population such
as a change in a species' coloring or size.

• Macroevolution: if the changes are over a


very long time and are large enough that the
population is no longer able to breed with other
populations of the original species, it is
considered a different species.
Evolution and Adaptation

Microevolution Macroevolution
Natural Selection
Three things must happen:
1. Genetic variability in a trait within population
2. Trait is heritable
3. Differential reproduction – must enable
individuals with the trait to leave more offspring
than others without the trait.
• Adaptive (heritable) trait helps survival and
reproduction under current conditions
Ecological Niches and
Adaptation
• Ecological niche – role in ecosystem. Includes
interaction with biotic and abiotic factors.
• Habitat – physical location

• In other words:
• Niche – species occupation
• Habitat - address
Ecological Niches
Stratification of niches, habitats allows many different
species to coexist. This is biodiversity.
Broad and Narrow Niches
•Generalist species
•Specialist species

• What is better? Depends…


• Environmental conditions consistent – favors specialists. Fewer
competitors, food plentiful

• Rapidly changing environmental conditions – favors


generalists… More adaptable.
Ecological Niches and Adaptation
Speciation, Extinction, and Biodiversity
How Species Evolve

• Speciation • Reproductive isolation


• Geographic isolation
Extinction
• When Environmental changes occur, species must evolve to adapt. If
not…
• Background extinction – slow rate
• Mass extinction – quickly, large groups
• Mass depletion – higher than mass (Ice Age)
• 99% of species that have existed on earth are now extinct.

Changes in Earth’s biodiversity – has leveled off during the last 1.8 million
Years. Is this due to human influence?
Extinction
•Adaptive radiation – after mass extinctions,
numerous new species evolve to fill
vacated niches. Takes 1-10 million years
for adaptive radiation to rebuild biodiversity.
•Human impacts – accelerated extinction
Human Impacts on Evolution
• Artificial Selection – artificially selecting superior
genetic traits
• Agriculture
• Hatcheries
• pets
Genetic Engineering
• Gene splicing
• Species creation in laboratories
• Takes less time than artificial selection
• Concerns about Genetic Engineering
• Many failures (1% success rate)
• Lead to more abortions? Only for the wealthy?
Biomes: Life on Land
• major vegetation types on land – based on
different climates and atmospheric conditions
• forests, grasslands, deserts
• tropical, temperate, polar
• temperature and precipitation determine overall
patterns

• What biome do we live in?


Biomes across 39th parallel
Altitude and Latitude

The two most important factors influencing vegetation in the


formation of biomes are precipitation and temperature.
Aquatic Life Zones
Aquatic Life Zones: Saltwater
71% of the Earth
• Coastal zone
• majority of marine species (90%)
• most commercial fisheries and interaction with land and humans
• Open ocean
• 90% of ocean area
• Estuary
• where rivers meet ocean
• Coral reefs and mangrove forests
Ocean
Zones
Freshwater Life Zones
• Standing water • Flowing water
Types of Lakes: Oligotrophic
Types of Lakes: Eutrophic
Stream Systems
• Runoff • Drainage basin
• Watershed • Floodplain Estuary

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