Intro to Evolution and the Kingdoms of Life Unit 4: The Biosphere

Ecology – what is it? Scientific discipline that studies the relationships of organisms with each other and their environments. Ecologists perform experiments to understand why these relationships might occur. These experiments take place in the biosphere. Biosphere – portion of earth that supports life!

All living things are Connected Ecosystem – all organisms living together in their physical environment Do not have clear boundaries Basic requirements: energy, mineral nutrients, CO2, water, oxygen, and living organisms Energy comes from the sun Biotic v. Abiotic factors – air, water, rocks, sand, light, and temperature

Ecosystem Organization Organisms, populations, and communities What does it mean to be a species? Breeding usually occurs within populations Community – only biotic components! Often characterized by vegetation Mate to produce fertile offspring!

History of Evolution Why are organisms “suited” to where they live? Darwin recognized differences were due to heredity, but postulated the environment exerted a strong influence as well Natural Selection – “Survival of the Fittest” Evolution – change in genetic characteristics from one generation to many generations down the road Finches on the Galapagos Adaptation – inherited trait that increases an organisms chance of survival

Themes of Evolution Coevolution – two organisms evolve together Artificial selection – selective breeding of organisms for certain characteristics Evolution of resistance Insects to pesticides – what implications might this have? Honeycreepers beak evolved, flower for pollen on its head!

Domains and Kingdoms In 1990, five kingdoms were reclassified due to the diversity in Bacteria Domain Bacteria Kingdom Eubacteria Domain Archaea – difference in cell wall makeup Kingdom Archaebacteria Domain Eukarya – eukaryotes! Kingdom Protista Kingdom Fungi – are fungi considered autotrophs? Kingdom Plantae – “lower plants,” gymnosperms, angiosperms Kingdom Animalia – vertebrates and invertebrates What about viruses? Viruses – non-living Throw in notes about

Eukarya

Worldly Adaptations Posters In groups, you will be assigned a region: African Desert, South American Tropical Rainforest, North American Prairie, Australian Outback, Lake Baikal in Siberia, or the Alaskan Tundra Brainstorm adaptations that plants and animals would need to have to survive in this region—write them on the top of your poster Research actual plants and animals that live in that region Draw pictures of the animals below your predictions Detail respective adaptations underneath each picture