BIODIVERSITY AND
EVOLUTION
Evolution
The change in the
characteristics of a
species over several
generations and relies on
the process of natural Theodosius
selection.
Dobzhansky once
– a key unifying principle
in biology. said, “Nothing in
biology makes
sense except in the
light of evolution.”
Evolution
Organisms inhabiting the earth have changed
overtime, their structures, traits, and abilities
allowed them to adapt and survive in their
environment. Data from the fossil records,
anatomy and morphology, embryonic
development and biochemistry could be
analyzed to demonstrate if evolution of life on
earth has taken place.
Lesson 1:
Evidence from
Fossil
Records
Foss
Examples of evidence that
paleontologists use in studying
evolution.
They are traces of organisms that
ils
lived in the past and were preserved
by natural process or catastrophic
events.
They can be remains of organisms
which include bones, shells, teeth and
also feces embedded in rocks, peat,
resin, and ice.
Tell us when organisms lived, as well
as provide evidence for the
progression and evolution of life on
earth over millions of years.
Paleontologist is a person who
studies fossils.
Foss
The preserved remains or traces of
animals, plants, and other organisms
from the past.
Range in age from 10,000 to 3.48
ils billion years old.
The observation that certain fossils
were associated with certain rock
strata led 19th century geologists to
recognize a geological timescale.
Like extant organisms, fossils vary in
size from microscopic, like single-
celled bacteria, to gigantic, like
dinosaurs and trees.
Foss
The bones of this
ils Tyrannosaurus rex
were preserved
through the process
of
permineralization,
which suggests that
[Link] this organism was
covered by sediment
“Sue” T-rex soon after death.
REMEM
Most fossils were commonly
BER!
found in sedimentary rocks.
They were from the hard
parts of the organism like
woody stem, bones, or teeth.
COMPRESSION VS.
IMPRESSION
Imprints are shallow external molds left by
animal or plant tissues with little or no organic
materials present.
Compression is the other side with more
COMPRESSION VS.
IMPRESSION
Carbon Dating and
Estimating Fossil Age
Determinin The age of fossils can
be determined using
g The Age stratigraphy,
biostratigraphy, and
Of Fossils radiocarbon dating.
Stratigra
phy
Paleontologists rely on stratigraphy to date fossils.
Stratigraphy is the science of understanding the
strata, or layers, that form the sedimentary record.
Strata are differentiated from each other by their
different colors or compositions and are exposed in cliffs,
quarries, and river banks. These rocks normally form
relatively horizontal, parallel layers, with younger layers
forming on top.
Sedimentary Rocks
The layers of sedimentary rock, or strata, can be seen as
horizontal bands of differently colored or differently
structured materials exposed in this cliff. The deeper layers
are older than the layers found at the top, which aids in
Biostratigrap
hy
Fossils of species that survived
for a relatively short time can be
used to match isolated rocks.
For instance, the extinct chordate
Eoplacognathus pseudoplanus is
thought to have existed during a short
range in the Middle Ordovician period.
If rocks of unknown age have traces of E.
pseudoplanus, they have a mid-
Ordovician age. Such index fossils must be
distinctive, globally distributed, and
occupy a short time range to be useful.
Relative
Dating
A method used to determine the age of the rocks by
comparing them with the rocks in the other layer. The
younger sedimentary rock layer is assumed to be
found on top and the older rock is found at the
bottom layer. Fossils found at the bottom layer are
assumed to be older than those on the upper layer.
The fossils of invertebrates found at the bottom part
of the rock layer suggest that invertebrates are
probably one of the first and oldest organisms that
lived on earth.
Relative
Dating
A method used to determine the age of the rocks by
comparing them with the rocks in the other layer. The
younger sedimentary rock layer is assumed to be
found on top and the older rock is found at the
bottom layer. Fossils found at the bottom layer are
assumed to be older than those on the upper layer.
The fossils of invertebrates found at the bottom part
of the rock layer suggest that invertebrates are
probably one of the first and oldest organisms that
lived on earth.
Radiometric
Dating
Method used to determine the age of rocks using
the decay of radioactive isotopes present in rocks.
All organisms have decaying carbon-14 in it. Plants
and animals that are still alive constantly replace
the supply of carbon in their body and the amount of
carbon -14 in their body stays the same. When an
organism dies, carbon-14 starts to decay.
Carbon dating is used to tell the age of organic
materials. Art collectors use carbon dating to
determine if a piece of artwork is genuine or not.
Radiometric
Dating
used in geochronology to establish the geological
time scale. Beds that preserve fossils typically lack
the radioactive elements needed for radiometric
dating (”radiocarbon dating” or simply “carbon
dating”).
Lesson 2:
Hint of
Evolution
from
Comparative
Anatomy
GEOLOGIC
TIME SCALE
Shows the major events in
the Earth’s history.
It also shows the
appearance of various
kinds of organisms in a
particular period of time on
earth.
GEOLOGIC
TIME SCALE
Era is the largest division
of Geologic Time Scale,
namely Precambrian,
Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and
Cenozoic. Each Era is
further divided into
Period.
Homologous
Structures
may perform different functions in the
species living in the different
environment, or it may have the same
origin but different functions.
Here are some example of homologous
structures: forelimbs of dog, bird, lizard,
and whale, which are structurally the same, but
functionally different.
Analogous
Structures
Structures of unrelated species may
evolve to look alike, because the
structure is adapted to similar function.
Have similar functions but different
origin. are wings of birds, bats, and
Examples
insects that have the same function but
different in origin.
Analogous
Structures
Structures of unrelated species may
evolve to look alike, because the
structure is adapted to similar function.
Have similar functions but different
origin. are wings of birds, bats, and
Examples
insects that have the same function but
different in origin.
Divergent
Evolution
The presence
homologous
of
structures is a strong
indicator that the
organisms evolved
from commonof an
The splitting
ancestors.
ancestral population
into two or more
subpopulations that
are geographically
isolated from one
Convergent
Evolution
Analogous structures
unrelated organisms
of
from different ancestors
develop similar function
such as butterfly wings
and bird [Link] an
Convergence
increase in similarities
among species derived
from different
ancestors as a result of
similar adaptation to
Lesson 3:
Embryology
Embry an early stage of development in
organisms
o Embryonic development include
stages such as blastula, gastrula,
and organogenesis.
Serves as a microcosm for
evolution, passing through many of
the stages of evolution to produce
the current state of the organism.
The greater the similarity in
amino acid sequence, the closer
the relationship of the
organisms. The organisms which
are similar in structure and also
possess similarity at the
Lesson 4:
THEORIES
OF
EVOLUTION
He proposed the idea
that there is a
possibility of a common
ERASMUS ancestor of organisms.
He also believed that
DARWIN competition might
(1731-1802, cause changes in
species.
ENGLISH)
He proved that
extinction does occur
by studying different
kinds of fossils, or
remains of ancient
GEORGES organisms. He propose
the theory of evolution
CUVIER or catastrophism which
states that catastrophe
(1769-1832, causes mass extinction of
organisms after which
FRENCH)
*catastrophe a violent and sudden change in a feature of the
earth new organisms will
Popularly known as Jean-
Baptiste Lamarck, was
one of the few scientists
who studied invertebrates
during his time. He also
studied fossils and
organisms which led
JEAN-BAPTISTE him to formulate three
PIERRE ANTOINE DE theories regarding
MONET CHEVALIER evolution. His work,
DE LAMARCK (1744- which was called theory
1829, FRENCH) of inheritance of
acquired
Theory of need-
According to Lamarck,
organisms evolve because
they have to. In addition,
he believed that
organisms in response to
the changes in their
JEAN-BAPTISTE environment. The traits
PIERRE ANTOINE DE that organisms manifest
MONET CHEVALIER are products of their
DE LAMARCK (1744- altered behavior. An
1829, FRENCH) example is the capability
of birds to fly because
Theory of Use and
Disuse- According to
Lamarck, organisms can
reshape or alter their
traits depending on the
importance of those traits
to the organisms. An
JEAN-BAPTISTE organism can develop a
PIERRE ANTOINE DE trait if it does not use the
MONET CHEVALIER trait often. For example, a
DE LAMARCK (1744- deer that runs very fast
1829, FRENCH) may develop strong
muscles for running.
Theory of Acquired
traits- According to
Lamarck, the acquired
traits of an organism that
were influenced by the
environment can be
passed on to its offspring.
JEAN-BAPTISTE Thus, evolution occurs
PIERRE ANTOINE DE (also known as
MONET CHEVALIER inheritance of acquired
DE LAMARCK (1744- traits). For example, if a
1829, FRENCH) giraffe was successful in
acquiring the trait of
He was an English naturalist
famous for his theory of evolution
by means of natural selection.
When he was 22 years old, he
joined a five-year journey that
explored the world through the
HMS Beagle, a British naval ship,
Darwin’s interest in the diversity
were the Galapagos Islands, an
CHARLES archipelago of volcanic islands
which is currently part of Ecuador.
DARWIN He noticed that species varied in
some traits depending on their
location. Examples of variations
(1809-1882) that he observed were the
difference of the carapace (hard
cover) of tortoises, the beaks of
Organisms vary in their
physical, functional,
and behavioral
characteristics.
Variations of organisms
allow specific kind of
species to survive more
CHARLES than other members. For
example, variations
DARWIN among camel that can
(1809-1882) hold more water are more
likely to survive in deserts
than those who can just
Organisms struggle to
survive to avoid extinction.
Competition occurs among
individuals and only those that
are the fittest to survive in a
particular area. Because of this,
organisms are compelled to
change to make themselves fit to
survive. If they failed to do so,
CHARLES they will become extinct.
Extinction is the process where
DARWIN all the individuals of a given
species cease to exist. At other
(1809-1882) times, changes in species over
time can lead to new species, a
process called speciation. It is
Organism which can be
best adapt to their
environment would survive
and produce better
offspring.
An organism that best adapts
to its environment and
CHARLES successfully produces healthy
offspring is considered fit. The
DARWIN fittest organism can produce
the same or better offspring
(1809-1882) and would avoid extinction.
Reproduction of healthy
offspring will guarantee
There is higher probability
of the next generation of
organisms to survive if they
acquired the adaptive
characteristics.
This is true if the
adapted(new) trait belongs to
CHARLES an organism that can survive
and reproduce. However, if
DARWIN the organism that has the
adapted traits died, then there
(1809-1882) will be smaller or no chance
are all for the next generation
to survive having the adaptive
Environmental
conditions can affect
the survival of
organisms.
When catastrophe
happens in the
CHARLES environment, only those
DARWIN organisms that can
adapt to the new
(1809-1882) condition environment
will survive. Other