Evolution by Natural Selection Wikispaces通过自然选择的进化Wikispaces.pptVIP

Evolution by Natural Selection ES 100: Environmental Ecology 9/26/05 Roots of Ecology Relatively new science Carl von Linné (mid 1700’s) classification of living things The Classification of Living Things Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primata Family: Hominidae Genus: Homo Species: Sapiens Roots of Ecology Carl von Linné (mid 1700’s) classification of living things Alexander von Humboldt (early 1800’s) botanical geography Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace 1850 animal geography theory of evolution by natural selection Ernst Haeckel 1866 coined the term “ecology” Edward Suess 1875 “biosphere” as the condition that promotes life: it includes plants, animals, and non-living things Arthur Tansley 1935 “ecosystem” concept: interaction between living and non-living entities in the biosphere Hypotheses, Theories and Your Textbook Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection Natural selection is the mechanism that explains evolution Natural Selection: scale = individual Evolution: scale = many generations Temporal Scale Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection Natural selection is the mechanism that explains evolution Natural Selection: scale = individual Evolution: scale = many generations Darwin’s observations: Organisms produce more young than can survive. All species exhibit genetic variability (from mutation and random combination of parent’s genes). Individuals with traits most suited to environment most likely to survive. Only survivors contribute to the gene pool. Theory: Lineages with most appropriate biological programming (genes) for current environmental conditions will leave the most descendants. Bush, page 7: “Sickle-cell anemia, Down’s syndrome, and color blindness are heritable, and each would reduce an individual’s chance of survival in a wild human population” When is Mutant Sickle-cell Gene Desirable? Natural Selection and Physical Appearance Optimal Foraging Theory Organisms that ‘forage’ most efficie