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Speciation And Extinction

Decent Essays

Assignment 3
Chapter 7 – Chapter 9
Due Friday, February 19, 2016 at 11:59 pm

Directions: Answer the following questions (2 – 5 sentences) in your own words. Type your answers beneath each question and upload your document through Blackboard before the due date/time.

Chapter 7 – Speciation and Extinction

1. Describe two species concepts that we discussed.
Evolutionary Species Concept , Biological Species Concept

2. What are the four microevolutionary processes that can lead to genetic divergence?

Mutation, Genetic Drift, Natural Selection, and gene flow.

3. What is natural selection?

Natural selection was a Natural selection is the micro evolutionary process where certain species develop certain traits that help them adapt and survive …show more content…

Provide two examples of human-caused species extinction.

Two human-caused species extensions are thylacine or Thylacinus cynocephalus, and the dodo bird, (Raphus cucullatus). The Thylacine and the dodo bird were both hunted and killed by settlers. Thylacine were hunted because of a bounty, and dodo birds were very charismatic with humans and were easily hunted and had coveted eggs. Chapter 8 – The Changing Earth

6. What are the major layers of Earth (in order, beginning with the layer closest to Earth’s surface)?

The major layers of Earth are the Earth’s crust, mantle, and core. The crust is the outermost part and is composed of the continents and oceans. The mantle includes the asthenosphere and is composed of hot dense solid rock. The core is divided by the inner and outer core, and is made of solid iron and nickel.

7. Describe the current model of plate tectonics.

The current model of plate tectonics is that there are tectonic plates above the mantle (lithosphere) are moving. There are 19 plates recognized and each plate is about 100km thick.

****8. What are the three basic forms of plate boundaries? What zones/faults are associated with each of these …show more content…

Describe a biogeographic consequence of tectonic events.

A biogeophraphic consequence would be mass extinction from the change in wind, weather, and seas and from the movement of continents. Also marine basins being destroyed as well as climates dramatically changing which in turn would affect species and the environment.

Chapter 9 – Glaciation and Biogeographic Dynamics of the Pleistocene

11. What is the most likely explanation for the overall pattern of heating and cooling during the Pleistocene?

The overall pattern of heating and cooling during the Pleistocene is most likely due from the cyclical changes in Earth’s orbit from the positioning of the planets in the solar system and the magnetic pull that’s placed on the Earth.

12. What are glacial – interglacial cycles?

Glacial cycles were cycles of cold temperatures and glacial advances during the ice age period. Interglacial cycles on the other hand are warmer temperatures and climates between glacial periods.

13. Explain three biogeographic responses to climatic cycles of the

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