Survival of the Fittest

Evolution

: A change over time

:a change in a population of organisms over time

Darwins Theory of Natural Selection (Survival of the

Fittest)

Published the Theory of Natural Selection in

his book entitled Origin of Species by means
of Natural Selection
Evolution is a powerful process of gradually selecting
organisms that are better adapted to the environment Darwin believed that individuals with
adaptive trait make up more of the
Lamarcks Theory of Use and Disuse (Lamarckism)
population, those who are not die off
Proposed that the characteristics that an
animal acquired during its lifetime is in
response to lifes struggles

Theory of Acquired Inheritance

Organisms could pass modifications

to offspring

Mechanisms of Natural Selection

-Overpopulation

The number of offspring is usually greater

than the available resources necessary for
organisms to survive

Population of baby turtles after

hatching are controlled by the
environment

-Struggle for Existence

Cuviers Theory of Catastrophism (Correlation of
Parts) Every organism must struggle to survive

Found evidence that new species appeared A Nile crocodile attacking a zebra
while other disappeared crossing the river in search for food

Catastrophism -Presence of variation

Idea that floods, diseases, drought, or There is variation within a species

other catastrophes destroy species in
one area, allowing neighboring A variation of color as shown by Jewel
regions to repopulate that area Scarabs

-Survival of the Fittest

 Some variations allow members of a species
to survive and reproduce better than others
Certain traits help organisms survive
and reproduce in a given
environment.
A faster cheetah is more likely to
catch a gazelle and survives
-Variations can be transmitted
Organisms that survive and reproduce pass
their traits on to their offspring, and the
helpful traits gradually appear in more and
more of the population
Fit organisms are able to reproduce
with other fit organisms thus those
unfit organisms are unable to
reproduce and thus eliminated
Evidences that Support Evolution
-Direct Evidence
Observed in places where we can directly
examine actual changes in a population of
organisms within a particular period of time
Experiments in the laboratory,
scientists can observe the process of
evolution
Bacteria in petri dishes
-Indirect Evidence
Data not directly observed
1. Fossils
Concrete evidence of change
Is the preserved remains of a living thing that
live in the past
Most fossils are incomplete
Types of Fossils (rocks)
Types of Fossils (preserved)
Techniques in Determining Fossil Age
Law of Superposition
In a series of sedimentary rock layers,
younger rocks normally lie on top of
older rocks that embed organisms
Fossil from recent layers are more
complex than those in older layers
Change in form is slow and gradual
Radioactive Decay
Age of rocks can be estimated by
analyzing the elements they contain
Elements exists as two or more
isotopes (radioactive)
Complex formulae are used to
calculate the time elapsed using the
half-life and standard radioactive
decay of isotopes
2. Embryological Evidence of
Change
Similarities in early development
Embryos of many different animals
appeared so similar and is difficult to
determine them from one another
meaning, living things share a
common ancestry
3. Anatomical Evidence of
Change
Similarity in body structures
Homologous evolved from same ancestral
body parts but have different functions
 Analogous have similar functions but
different anatomical structures
Vestigial body parts that are inherited, but
reduced in size and often unused
4. Biochemical Pieces of
Evidence
The more closely related two organisms are,
the more similar the sequence of their DNA
molecules will be.
Modern Theory of Evolution
August Weismann (mice experiment)
Disproved Lamarcks Theory
Advancement in genetics enriched Darwins
original ideas; gene mutation & genetic
recombination
The Development of New Species
Species population of organisms sharing similar
characteristics and interbreed naturally producing
a fertile offspring
Gene flow movement of genes from one
generation to the next or from one region to
another
Development of New Species
New species evolve as they fill empty niches
or move into a niche that previously they did
not occupy.
Niche - is the habitat and role of an organism
- when two organisms occupy same
niche, they strongly compete (one will
survive, the other will not)
Speciation used to describe the
development of new species
Moving into a niche:
Migration movement of organisms into new
or empty niches
Isolation occurs when some members of the
species suddenly become cut off the rest of
the species
Evolutionary Pattern
Patterns are ways which organisms evolving
or changing into something different.
Divergent Evolution occurs with closely
related species, moving to new habitats,
producing different species altogether.
Convergent Evolution initially distantly
related organisms evolve similar structures to
adapt to a similar habitat or way of life
(analogous)
Extinction loss of an entire species for a
variety of reasons
Adaptive Radiation increase in number of
kinds of closely related species which evolve
new traits to fill empty niches.
Coevolution common in predator-prey
relationships. Two species equally influence
each other.
Pace of Evolution
Gradualism evolutionary change taking time
Punctuated Equilibrium rapid spurts of
change
 3. Spatial Dispersion pattern of spacing among
members of populations within a specified area; how
population is arranged

Ecosystems

4. Population Range

- There are conditions that can limit population

range.

- These are:
A review of the layers of ecological organization
Abiotic Factors

Biotic Factors

- Invasive species, aggressively populates a new

habitat and adapts well in their new
environment, i.e. Cockroaches

- 5. Reproductive Patterns

Limiting Population Growth

Factors limiting or reducing population size.

Population Dynamics
Population a group of organisms having the same
characteristics

1. Population Density number of individuals

occupying a certain area

Carrying Capacity number of organisms that can be

supported by a given environment; Dieback /
Population crash happens when organisms exceed Growth Model: Exponential Growth
carrying capacity.

Environmental Resistance all factors that limit

population size

1) Density independent factors

Environmental factors that affect the

population regardless of density ;
(Abiotic Factors)

Ex. Extreme weather conditions, forest fires, volcanic

Growth Model: Logistic Growth
eruption, pollution

1) Density dependent factors

Environmental factors that depend on

the number of members in a
population

Ex. Inadequate food, availability of space

Population Growth Rate

Birth Rate the number of individual births in
a certain population of organisms in a given Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability
time
- An ecosystem is stable when it has the
Death Rate the number of individuals dying ability to maintain its structure and
in a certain population in a given time
function over long periods of time despite
Immigration individuals moving into an disturbance.
existing population
- Structure of the ecosystem refers to:
Emigration members leaving an existing
population Physical and geological landscape

Diversity and population sizes

Species interaction with each

other

Ecosystem Stability is achieved through

- Resistance structure and functions stay

normal despite changes in the
environment.

Pop. Change = (BR+IM) (DR +EM) - Resilience an ecosystem can regain its
normal structure and function after
disturbance.

- Species Richness number of different

species that thrive in an area; predicts
ecosystem stability

- Keystone Species species that perform

unique functions in the ecosystem (i.e.
controls population of other species).