Describe the differences between mold, cast, and trace fossils
Mold: organism decays leaving an imprint or cavity of the organism.
Cast: mold can then be filled with minerals to form a copy of the organism
Trace: impressions of footprints, burrows, and other shapes left by the movement of organisms.
Who is considered the "father of evolution"?
Charles Darwin
What is the difference between a structural and a behavioral adaptation? YOU MUST GIVE EXAMPLES FOR BOTH.
Structural: A physical feature that helps the animal survive or reproduce. Ex: Thick coat on a Husky allows it to live in colder climates
Behavioral: A behavior that helps the animal survive or reproduce. Ex. Brightly colored feathers on a bird of paradise help it to find a mate
What is a fossil?
evidence that an organism once existed in an area; can be a part of the organism's body or a trace fossil which is a mark or print left by the organism
give an example of a species that has evolved over time
answer varies.
Galapagos finches
What are fossils that are abundant, easily recognizable, short-lived, and widespread called?
Index fossils
What does the phrase "survival of the fittest" mean?
Answers vary
Organisms must compete for resources in their environment. Those organisms that are a better biological fit for their environment will survive and reproduce better than others. Those organisms will become more numerous.
An instinct or inherited behavior is...
something that an organism is born learning to do
Define evolution
A theory that the various types of animals and plants have their origin in other preexisting types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successive generations
how many mass extinctions have there been?
Five
The Law of Superposition states that
Younger rocks layers are on top of older rock layers
explain the difference between natural and artificial selection. YOU MUST GIVE EXAMPLES OF EACH
Natural Selection: nature "selects" the traits that are best suited to the environment, pepper moths
Artificial: humans select traits that they deem to be valuable. horses
Species A. a species with little genetic variation
Species B. a species with a lot of genetic variation
Species B.
Answers vary
more traits that would help the organism survive changes in habitat/climate
Define adaptation
the process by which the characteristics of a species change over many generations in response to the environment
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
describe how trace fossils are valuable paleontologists
Answers vary.
habitats, size, speed, behavior patterns of animals, etc
how does natural selection affect traits that influence populations over time?
nature selects the traits that are best suited for the environment to allow animals to survive and reproduce. Animals that are not fit for their environment die out.
A honey bee helps pollinate flowers while the flower provides food for the bee, What type of symbiotic relationship is this?
Mutualism
Define index fossils
fossils that are abundant, easily recognizable, short-lived, and widespread
Which type of rock are fossils found in?
sedimentary rock
Explain how fossils support the ideas of evolution
Answers vary.
change over time, adaptations to environments, survival of the fittest
Explain how animal embryonic stages provide evidence for the theory of evolution
Answers vary
homologous structures, that these groups all descended from the same ancestor species.
give an example of each type of symbiotic relationship
Answers vary
mutualism: clownfish and sea anemones
Commensalism: tree frogs and plants
parasitism: zombie fungus and ant
Define homologous structures
traits that appear in several different organisms and in organisms that are long extinct.
in order for evolution to take place, what has to happen?
The environment has to change