Speciation concepts and phylogenetic trees study guide

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What is convergent evolution?

Evolve from different common ancestor but end up look the same. (sharks and dolphins)

o What is morphology?

How things look.

o What is the difference between homology/synapomorphy and homoplasy?

Homology/synapomorphy - similar because of a common ancestor

Homoplasy - look the same not from common ancestor

o What is an outgroup?

Least related in phylogeny.

o Be able to construct a phylogenetic tree if given information about the traits of different organisms

· Speciation

o Be familiar with the differences between the following

§ Biological species concept

Different species can’t have offspring who are fertile.

§ Ecological species concept

Species is a set of organisms using the same niche. (resources being used and habitat of the animal)

§ Morphological species concept

Things that look similar/the same are the same species.

§ Phylogenetic species concept

All from common ancestor, species are tips of the tree (shared ancestry, unique inherited traits).

o Allopatric vs sympatric speciation

Allopatric: physical separation of 2 populations = interruption of gene flow

Sympatric: takes place in specific area (no geographical barrier to gene flow)

· Primary scientific literature

o What are some differences between primary and secondary (or tertiary) scientific sources?

Primary: figures/tables of data, detailed method section, written by scientists who did the work, references other primary sources

Secondary: no/very little data, brief overview/no methods section, description of work by 3 party

o Be familiar with the anole lizard paper to the extent that we talked about in class

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