Adaptive Radiation

1a

Adaptive radiation is the evolution of

several ecologically diverse species from
common ancestral species

1b

Analogy

2a

Structures that have similar function due

to selection pressures from the
environment

2b

Comparative Anatomy

3a

Common descent and phylogenetic

constraint
Homologies
Comparative anatomy
Vestigial features
3b

Describe and explain the evolutionary

process

4a

Evolution is biological change over time or genetic change

in a population over generations.
According to Darwin, evolution is descent with
modification. It is the change in the frequency of variation
over time. Variation exists in all populations, some
variation is passed to offspring, and characteristics
change from generation to generation. Evolution is a
consequence of variation: the components of variation
that are inherited from parent to offspring and its change
leads to evolution. Individuals are the unit of natural
selection but populations are the unit of evolution.

4b

Describe and explain the hypotheticdeductive process

5a

1.Ideas are generated.

2. These ideas lead to predictions.
3. These predictions/hypotheses are then tested
via experimentation and observation.
4. As a result of these tests, the hypotheses are
either rejected through falsification or not
rejected - but hypotheses cannot be proven.
5b

Describe Darwin's primary contributions

to evolutionary biology

6a

- Evolution as fact
- Mechanism for evolution: more offspring can be
produced than can survive (competition among offspring)
leading to natural selection and differential reproduction
of inherited variation
- All species show variation: some variation is due to
different genes and some due to different environments
(including culture)
- Some inherited variants reproduce more successfully
than others so they will increase in frequency
6b

Describe/explain anagenesis

7a

Anagenesis is the transformation of a

single species over time - evolution in a
single lineage/within a single line of
descent.
7b

Describe/explain cladogenesis

8a

Cladogenesis is the formation of one or

more new species from another over
time - divergent or splitting evolution. It
requires anagenesis - changes within a
lineage - as cladogenesis involves
geographic separation followed by
changes in one or both lineages.
8b

Describe fitness and its components

9a

Fitness is a measure of net reproductive

success. It is the number of viable offspring
usually measured relatively with the values
between 0 and 1 - the most fit individual gets a
value of 1. It has 2 components:
1. Survival (mortality) to reproductive age
2. Fertility/reproduction
9b

Describe the causes of variation and the

role of variation in evolution

10a

Evolution requires the existence of inherited variation in a

population. If some inherited variants confer greater reproductive
success than others then evolution by natural selection will occur.
Variation exists in all populations, some variation is passed to
offspring, and characteristics change from generation to generation.
Evolution is a consequence of variation: the components of
variation that are inherited from parent to offspring and its change
leads to evolution. Variation arises from two causes:
1. Genes that are inherited - arise by mutation
2. Environment (including lifestyle)
The combination of genetic variation and natural selection give rise
to evolution.
10b

Describe the role of natural selection in

evolution.

11a

Natural selection is a mechanism for evolutionary change favouring the survival and
reproduction of some organisms over other because of their biological characteristics. It
is the change in genotype frequency in a population form one generation to the next due
to the differing abilities of associated phenotypes to survive and reproduce in a given
environment. There is variation in the phenotype of a species, and competition between
different members of the species. Those with more competitive features will compete
better for food and other survival requirements. These organisms will have greater
survival and reproductive success, leading to greater fitness. This results in the change in
frequency of a more favourable characteristic of a gene.
Natural selection occurs when:
1. Within a species, not all individuals are identical i.e. there is inherited variation.
2. If some forms have more offspring than others, the frequency of the variants can
change i.e. natural selection occurs.

11b

Domestication

12a

Artificial selection, change in species from

a common ancestor, new population
formed from this selection.

12b

Explain the basic difference between

science and religion

13a

Science and religion both provide understanding of

the world in different mechanisms. They reach
understanding by different methods: religion by
perceived wisdom and science by the hypotheticodeductive process. Religious beliefs are not
scientifically debatable and there is no evolution
versus creation debate within science. Religion relates
to the spiritual world and science to the natural world.
13b

Features of adaptive radiation

14a

1. A common ancestry of component species: specifically a

recent ancestry.
2. A phenotype-environment correlation: a significant
association between environments and the morphological
and physiological traits used to exploit those
environments.
3. Trait utility: the performance or fitness advantages of
trait values in their corresponding environments.
4. Rapid speciation: presence of one or more bursts in the
emergence of new species around the time that ecological
and phenotypic divergence is underway.

14b

Fossil record

15a

If species were created independently

there would be no order to the fossil
record, the fossil record is a dated
morphological sequence of change
15b

Homology

16a

Structures in species that have come

from a common ancestor

16b

Inference 1

17a

A struggle for existence occurs among

organisms in a population

17b

Inference 2

18a

Varying organisms show differential

survival and reproduction, favouring
advantageous traits

18b

Inference 3

19a

Natural selection, acting over many

generations, gradually produces new
adaptations and new species

19b

Observation 1

20a

Organisms have great potential fertility,

which permits exponential growth of
populations

20b

Observation 2

21a

Natural populations normally do not

increase exponentially but remain fairly
constant in size

21b

Observation 3

22a

Natural resources are limited

22b

Observation 4

23a

Variation occurs among organisms within

populations

23b

Observation 5

24a

Variation is heritable

24b

Phylogenetic Constraint

25a

Evolution is constrained by ancestry,

therefore a species may inherit particular
traits or developmental systems that
constrain the possible variation that
forms the basis for new adaptations
25b

Pre-Darwinian Evolutionary Ideas

26a

Carolus Linnaeus: no evolution - fixity and

constancy of species
Jean-Baptiste de Lemark:
- Change of species, evolutionary descent
- Inheritance of acquired characteristics (false)
- Scala naturae: ladder of nature, evolving up to
humanity/perfection (false)
- Evolution has no direction
26b

Provide examples of evolution and

domestication

27a

Melanism in the peppered moth: Industrial revolution

in Britain lead to increased pollution leading to
increased frequency of melanic (darkened) moth
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria: Moraxella bacteria resistance increased as antibiotic use increased, rapid
evolution: 90% developed resistance in 15 years
Fossil record: Horse - larger, number of toes/bones
have changed, environmental changes drive
evolutionary change
27b

Sexual Selection

28a

- Is a form of natural selection where it acts on

an organism's ability to obtain or successfully
copulate with mate.
- This selection is often powerful enough to
produce features that are harmful to the
individual's survival, for example, extravagant
and colourful tail feathers or fins are likely to
attract predators as well as interested members
of the opposite sex.

28b

Speciation

29a

- The evolutionary process or event by which

new species arise.
- This can occur through several methods:
adaptive radiation (evolution of several
ecologically diverse species from common
ancestral species), genetic divergence
(mutations, genetic drift: change in frequency of
an allele) and reproductive isolation (separation
between populations within a species)

29b