Transcript Natural Selection & Evolution

Natural Selection &
Evolution
I. Natural Selection &
Charles Darwin
 Due to earth’s long history; life is
thought to have evolved over
time
 Charles Darwin (1819-1882) an
English scientist considered the
founder of the evolutionary
theory
 Darwin studied many forms of life
through the voyage of the Beagle
 Galapagos Islands was where
Darwin studied a majority of the
organism
 Darwin's many observations led him to
the idea that species slowly change over
time (Gradualism)
 Darwin's comparison of the animals of
South America and the Galapagos
Islands caused him to conclude that
adaptation to the environment can
cause diversification, including origin of
new species
The Galapagos Islands:
 Volcanic islands off the South
American coast
 Island species varied from the
mainland species, and from island-toisland
 Each island had either long or short
necked tortoises depending on the
island's vegetation
The Galapagos Islands:
 Finches on the Galapagos Islands
resembled a mainland finch, but there
were more types
 Bill shapes are adaptations to
different means of gathering food.
 Galapagos finch species varied by
nesting site, beak size, and eating habits
Darwin's Theory of
Evolution:
 An adaptation is a trait that helps an
organism be more suited to its
environment
 Darwin decided adaptations develop
over time
 Natural selection was proposed by
both Alfred Russell Wallace and
Darwin as a driving mechanism of
evolution
Natural Selection:
Natural Selection – a mechanism
for change in a population where
favorable conditions for a
particular environment which
help organisms, survive,
reproduce and pass on these
variations. This is also known as
“Survival of the Fittest”
There is a variation in Traits.
Green beetles tend to get
eaten more often therefore
lessen their chances to The Brown
reproduce.
Trait is an
advantage
therefore
allows more
brown beetles
to be produced
 Artificial Selection - a technique in
which a breeder selects the
particular traits
 Pigeon breeding experiments
helped him to further study his
theory of evolution
 This was an example of Artificial
Selection
Adaptations:
 Mimicry – structural adaptation that
provides protection. Allows a harmless
species to resemble a harmful species.
This caterpillar
protects itself by
mimicking a snake
Adaptations:
 Camouflage – structural adaptation that
enables an organism to blend in with it’s
surroundings
Katydids
camouflage
into a variety of
environments
Adaptations:
 Structural adaptations can occur
over many generations
 Physiological adaptations can
occur very rapidly (organisms
adjusting to the changes of
environment)
 Eg: tanning of skin when exposed o
sun/ formation of callouses on
hands/ change color of coat
because of temperature
Evidence of Evolution
Fossils show changes which have occurred
over time:
1. Homologous Structure – modified structure
similar in structure and function. (PAP p.384/
p.401)
2. Analogous Structure – similar in function
different in structure (Insect wings/Birds)
3. Vestigial Structure – structure which was once
used in an ancestral organism, but looses
function due to evolution. (mole eyes/ Whale
pelvic bones/ ostrich wings)
Bell Ringer 2:
1. Define Phenotype.
2. What provides evidence for evolution?
3. What is an adaptation?
II. Mechanisms of
Evolution
 Phenotypes may determine the success
or failure of an organism
 If the phenotype is poorly adapted to it’s
environment the organism my not
survive, therefore not reproduce
 Populations evolve over time and not
individuals this is called “Population
Genetics”
Genetics Determines
Evolution:
 Gene Pool – All the alleles in a
populations genes. In other words every
form of a trait
 Allelic Frequency – the % of any specific
allele w/in a gene pool


Statsis (Genetic Equilibrium) – allele
frequency remains the same over
generations
 Populations in genetic equilibrium
are not evolving
Factors that affects genes can affect
equilibrium
1. Mutations [negative, positive]
 Negative more than likely causes
death
 Positive may be beneficial
2. Genetic Drift – alteration of
allelic frequencies by chance
events
3. Gene Flow – transfer of alleles
from one population to another
population through immigration of
individuals . This disrupts allele
frequency.
Trait Variations –
differences in Organisms
 Genetic Variation/ Diversity: Increases or
decreases an organisms chance of
survival
 Inherited and controlled by alleles
 Allelic frequencies in a populations gene
pool will change due to natural selection
Bell Ringer 3:
7. How do alleles affect evolution?
8. How can geographic isolation change a
populations gene pool?
9. Why is rapid evolution more likely to
occur in small populations?
3 Types of Natural Selection
that Act on Variation:
1. Stabilizing – natural selection that
favors average individuals
3 Types of Natural Selection
that Act on Variation:
2. Directional selection – natural
selection that favors an extreme form of
a trait
3 Types of Natural Selection
that Act on Variation:
3. Disruptive selection – individuals w/
either extreme form of a trait
The Evolution of Species:
 Species – organisms that look alike can
interbreed to produce fertile offspring
 Speciation – evolution of a new species,
where members of similar populations no
longer interbreed to produce fertile
offspring
Physical Barriers Cause
Speciation:
Geographic Isolation – a physical barrier
divides a population
Reproductive Isolation – the inability of
organisms to mate and breed fertile
offspring
-Genetic material
becomes so
different
fertilization can
not occur
-Behavior
mating seasons
are different
Different Theories:
Gradualism – idea that species originate
through a gradual change of adaptations
Punctuated Equilibrium – idea that
species originate in rapid bursts followed by
long period of genetic equilibrium
Speciation:
 Sympatric Speciation: Is the process
through which new species evolve from a
single ancestral species while inhabiting
the same geographic region.
 Allopatric Speciation: occurs when the
same species become vicariant, or isolated
from each other. This can be the result of
geographical changes such as mountain
formation, island formation, or large scale
human activities (for example agricultural
and civil engineering developments).
 Allopatric speciation due to geographic separation of the Grand
Canyon.
Harris's antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus harrisi) inhabits the
canyon's south rim (left). Just a few miles away on the north rim (right)
lives the closely related white-tailed antelope squirrel
(Ammospermophilus leucurus).Another example is the Tassel-eared
Squirrel, where Abert's Squirrel (Sciurus aberti) lives on the south rim
and the Kaibab Squirrel (Sciurus aberti kaibabensis) lives on the north
rim.
Patterns of Evolution
Adaptive Radiation – ancestral
species evolves into an array of species
to fit a particular environment.