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The Evolution of Living Things

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Presentation on theme: "The Evolution of Living Things"— Presentation transcript:

1 The Evolution of Living Things
Changes over time

2 Differences Among Organisms
Variations: any difference between individuals of the same species Caused by inherited traits mutations What is a species?

3 Variations Can be helpful, harmful, or have no impact
Helpful variations (adaptations) accumulate in a population Eventually a new species forms with the new variation This process is evolution Process in which inherited characteristics within a population change over generations such that new species sometimes arise What is an adaptation?

4 Species a group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring

5 Speciation Formation of a new species
Separation—part of population becomes separated from rest Adaptations—both populations undergo natural selection. If environments are different, adaptations will also differ Division—over many generations separate populations become different species

6 Do species change over time?
Evidence suggest they have Many organisms have appeared and died out What is extinction?

7 Evidence of changes over time
Fossils and the fossil record DNA Comparative structures Embryology

8 Evidence of evolution: Fossils and Fossil Record
Show estimated age and physical similarities of organisms Show changes from earlier life forms

9 Pangea and the fossil record

10 Pangea and the fossil record

11 Evidence of Evolution: DNA
Many organisms share common DNA The more DNA that is shared, the more closely related the two organisms are

12 Evidence of Evolution: comparative structures
Homologous Structures same structures Analogous structures Different structures with similar function Vestigial structures remnants that were important but are no longer needed Bird

13 Homologous structures

14 Analogous structures

15 Vestigial structures Eyes of cave dwelling fish and mole rats
Leg and hip bones in whales Teeth that quickly disappear in duck billed platypus Wings on flightless birds

16 Evidence of Evolution: Embryological Development

17 Evidence of Evolution: Embryological Development

18 Evidence of Evolution: Common Ancestry

19 Common ancestors in canines

20 Evidence from Whales

21 Horse Evolution

22 Evolution took a long time

23 Cladograms Charts that show common ancestors among organisms

24 Cladogram showing common ancestry among some lizards

25 How does evolution happen?
Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully than less well adapted organisms do Survival of the Fittest

26 Natural Selection theory to explain the mechanism of evolution
There are several factors that Darwin identified that affect the process of natural selection: Overproduction of offspring Competition Variations

27 Overproduction Most species produce far more offspring than can possibly survive.

28 Competition Competition is the struggle between organisms for the limited resources in a habitat.

29 Natural Selection: Examples
Are these two butterflies the same species? Question: Why is the result of this type of natural selection called mimicry? Answer: Because natural selection results in one species looking like, or mimicking, another species. These are the Monarch and Viceroy butterflies. The Monarch on the left is poisonous and the Viceroy is not. Question: Why would it be beneficial for the Viceroy to look like the Monarch?

30 Natural Selection: Examples
How many moths do you see?

31 Natural Selection: Examples
Checkpoint: A species of hare (rabbit) that is found in a cold tundra environment. How are oversized feet an advantage to the Arctic Hare? Large feet enable the artic hare to have a better grip on the snow. This adaptation along with coloration, eye size, fur density and color changes enable the artic hare to get away from predators.

32 Who is Charles Darwin? Proposed a way how evolution works
How did creatures change over time? by natural selection Collected a lot of evidence to support his ideas British naturalist What did Darwin say? What evidence supports Evolution by Natural Selection? What impact did Evolution have on biology?

33 Voyage of the HMS Beagle
Invited to travel around the world (22 years old!) makes many observations of nature main mission of the Beagle was to chart South American coastline After graduation Darwin was recommended to be the conversation companion to Captain Robert FitzRoy, preparing the survey ship Beagle for a voyage around the world. FitzRoy chose Darwin because of his education, his similar social class, and similar age as the captain. Darwin noted that the plants and animals of South America were very distinct from those of Europe Robert Fitzroy

34 Voyage of the HMS Beagle
Stopped in Galapagos Islands 500 miles off coast of Ecuador The origin of the fauna of the Galapagos, 900 km west of the South American coast, especially puzzled Darwin. On further study after his voyage, Darwin noted that while most of the animal species on the Galapagos lived nowhere else, they resembled species living on the South American mainland. It seemed that the islands had been colonized by plants and animals from the mainland that had then diversified on the different islands

35 Galapagos Recently formed volcanic islands. Most of animals on the Galápagos live nowhere else in world, but they look like species living on South American mainland. 800 km west of Ecuador

36 Darwin found…many unique species
Many of Darwin’s observations made him wonder… Why? Darwin asked: Why were these creatures found only on the Galapagos Islands?

37 Darwin found…clues in the fossils
present day Armadillos Darwin found: Evidence that creatures have changed over time ancient Armadillo Darwin asked: Why should extinct armadillos & modern armadillos be found on same continent?

38 Darwin found… more fossils
present day Sloth Darwin found: Evidence that creatures have changed over time (extinct) Giant ground sloth

39 Darwin found: Different shells on tortoises on different islands
Darwin asked: Is there a relationship between the environment & what an animal looks like?

40 Darwin found… birds Darwin found: Many different birds on the Galapagos Islands. He thought he found very different kinds… Finch? Sparrow? Woodpecker? Warbler?

41 But Darwin found… a lot of finches
Darwin was amazed to find out: All 14 species of birds were finches… Darwin asked: If the Galapagos finches came from the mainland, why are they so different now? But there is only one species of finch on the mainland! Large ground finch Small ground finch Finch? Sparrow? Warbler finch Tree finch Woodpecker? Warbler?

42 The finches cinched it! different beaks are inherited variations
serve as adaptations that help birds compete for food these birds survive & reproduce pass on the genes for those more fit beaks over time nature selected for different species with different beaks Darwin said: Ahaaaa! A flock of South American finches were stranded on the Galapagos… Darwin found: The differences between species of finches were associated with the different food they ate. Large ground finch Big seed eater Small seed eater Small ground finch Warbler finch Insect eater Tree finch Leaf & bud eater

43 Relationship between species (beaks) & food

44 Darwin’s finches Darwin’s conclusions variations in beaks
differences in beaks in the original flock adaptations to foods available on islands natural selection for most fit over many generations, the finches were selected for specific beaks & behaviors offspring inherit successful traits accumulation of winning traits: both beaks & behaviors separate into different species

45 From 1 species to 14 species…
Warbler finch Woodpecker finch Small insectivorous tree finch Large insectivorous Vegetarian Cactus finch Sharp-beaked finch Small ground finch Medium ground finch Large ground Insect eaters Bud eater Seed eaters Cactus eater Warbler Tree finches Ground finches natural selection for best survival & reproduction variation

46 Earlier ideas on Evolution
LaMarck evolution by acquired traits creatures developed traits during their lifetime give those traits to their offspring example in reaching higher leaves giraffes stretch their necks & give the acquired longer neck to offspring not accepted as valid

47 Darwin’s view of Evolution
giraffes that already have long necks survive better leave more offspring who inherit their long necks variation selection & survival reproduction & inheritance of more fit traits

48 Similarities and Differences
Checkpoint: How did Darwin think plants and animals had originally come to the Galapagos Islands? Answer: Perhaps they had been blown out to sea or set adrift on a fallen log. Question: What similarities and differences do these two species have? Both species have spines, claws, and scaly skin. Green iguanas are green, have smaller claws, and live in trees. Marine iguanas are gray, have large claws, and live on rocks near the ocean.

49 Darwin’s Theory: REVIEW….
1. Organisms differ; variation is inherited 2. Organisms produce more offspring than survive 3. Organisms compete for resources 4. Organisms with advantages survive to pass those advantages to their children 5. Species alive today are descended with modifications from common ancestors


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