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Where do species inherit Body Structures?
From their ancestors
What is the process of species slowly changing over millions of years?
Evolution
Which scientist studies Fossils?
Paleontologist
A backbone in whales and cats is an example of?
Shared body structures
Two species of lizards have similar leg structures. What is the best explanation?
They inherited the structures from a common ancestor population.
What does it mean if two species have similar body strutures?
They share a common ancestor
A population's environment remains stable for millions of years. What will happen to body structures of animals?
Body structures may remain relatively stable
Two species share many similar body structures. What can scientists conclude?
They likely share a recent common ancestor
Why do scientists compare body structures among species?
To identify evolutionary relationships.
A population of rabbits develops thicker fur over many generations after moving to a colder environment. What most likely caused this change?
Natural selection favored rabbits with thicker fur
How does natural selection change body structure over time?
Evolution/ Adaptive traits remain
What is natural selection?
The process by which advantageous traits become more common.
How long has there been evoltuionary history?
Since the dawn of life on earth
What best describes a population?
Members of the same species living in the same area.
What is an adaptation?
An inherited trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce.
Why are fossils important evidence for evolution?
They provide clues about organisms that lived long ago and how species have changed over time.
A population of birds has beaks of many different sizes. This is an example of—
Genetic variation.
A population of insects is exposed to a new predator. After many generations, insects that blend in with their surroundings become more common. What most likely happened?
Natural selection favored better camouflage
Why do scientists use evolutionary trees?
To show relationships among species.
How do rock layers tell scientist how old a fossil is? (Where are the older fossils and where are the newer fossils?)
Older Fossils are buried in deeper rock layers, while newer ones are closer to the surface
A swan population increases in neck size over generations, why did this happen?
Swans with longer necks were more adaptive
A population of mice lives in a grassy area. After a wildfire, the ground becomes much darker. Several generations later, darker-colored mice are more common. What most likely explains this change?
Darker mice were better camouflaged and reproduced more successfully.
Two species separated into different environments millions of years ago. What is likely to happen to their body structures?
Their body structures may become increasingly different.
Why is genetic variation important in a population?
It allows populations to respond to environmental changes/ helps to allow species to survive in changing environments
Why might the wings of different bird species have different shapes in different environments?
Different environments favored different wing structures.