Principles of Biology FINAL EXAM- Cedarville, Dr. Jones

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    List the 3 types of biodiversity

    - Genetic Diversity - Species richness in an ecosystem - Ecosystem Diversity

    Genetic Diversity

    The range of genetic material present in a gene pool or population of a species.

    Ecosystem Diversity

    variety of habitats, living communities, and ecological processes in the living world

    Biodiversity

    the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

    What factors may determine the type of ecosystems found in a region?

    resources, climate

    habitat heterogeneity

    Diversity of variety in habitat types

    Which type of ecosystem or biome provides the greatest amount of habitat heterogeneity

    Tropical rainforest

    What is the relationship between habitat heterogeneity and species richness

    The type of habitat determines what species live in an ecosystem and its species richness.

    latitudinal gradient

    The increase in species richness or biodiversity that occurs from the poles to the tropics.

    Why biodiversity important

    - Goods (food, resources) - Services (recycling minerals, flood control) - Information (genetic engineering) -Psycho-spiritual (aesthetic beauty, awe of Creator)

    What is the value of biodiversity to an ecosystem?

    The more options for resources, the more likely the organisms in an ecosystem will be able to survive (larger food web).

    HIPPCO

    Acronym used by conservation biologists for the six most important secondary causes of premature extinction

    H

    habitat destruction , Medicine for cancer on Madagascar, apex predators at most risk

    I

    invasive species, "guam" tree snake in bathrooms, zebra mussels eat plankton, round Goby, emerald ash borer, Asian carp and Great Lakes

    P

    pollution, surface water contamination, pavement, greenhouse gasses, runoff, sewage, combustion exhaust, pig farm

    P (2)

    population growth (human), ecological footprint, carrying capacity, intrinsic rate of growth, medical and industrial revolutions

    C

    climate change, Greenhouse gases, anthropogenic sources of carbon [fossil fuel combustion, industrial and agricultural processes] increased temperature, changing and increasing precipitation, decrease in size and number of glaciers, deep water temperatures s have increased, Bluefin Tuna present in Arctic waters

    O

    overexploitation, Overused resources, CITES act, IUCN lists endangered/ threatened species ESA protects endangered species, society does not look beyond immediate effects.

    Species area curve

    direct correlation between area size and numbers of species

    Native and non-native species

    species that migrate into an ecosystem or are deliberately or accidentally introduced into an ecosystem by humans. Not necessarily invasive.

    Surface water contamination

    -Easily contaminated by surface and underground sources

    point source pollution

    pollution that comes from a specific site (sewage plant)

    non-point source pollution

    pollution over a large area (agricultural runoff [plant and animal], urban runoff [urban development and sprawl])

    pavement- an impervious surface,

    increased flooding, channel erosion, pollutants

    deforestation

    The removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves (roots hold soil in place)

    erosion

    natural processes that wears away at soil and makes it less fertile

    acid deposition

    Sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, emitted by burning fossil fuels, enter the atmosphere-where they combine with oxygen and water to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid-and return to Earth's surface. Acid rain pH number in the soil and aquatic systems

    eutrophication of aquatic systems

    Enriching of water (algal blooms result in biomagnification, etc.).

    agriculture rationale

    the efficiency of supplying food supports large populaations.it is a monoculture that results in the arrest of weeds, broken cycles (no natual process of succession), and no point source pollution to control runoff.

    monoculture

    en ecosystem with only one population

    scientific considerations for the growing human populations

    ecological footprint, sustainable use of resources

    ecological footprint

    amount of natural resources needed to supply a population with the necessities of life in a given area to sustain the current quality of life

    sustainable use of resources

    resources that are replaced at the same rate as they are aploited (renewable). Natural resource degradation, recycling natural resources

    Explain the advantage of a grain based diet compared to a meat based diet and why a country such as India is primarily grain based. Which is more efficient at supplying food to the world population? - use the ecological pyramids to assist in responding to this.

    Makes a pyramid with just two layers while a meat-based diet has three layers. With less layers, the initial grain an be more productive, but if has to go through a middle (such as cattle), energy is lost and not as effective.

    List evidence of global climate change

    increased global temperature, changing and increasing precipitation, decrease in size and number of glaciers, rising sea levels, deep water temperatures increasing, Bluefin Tuna in Arctic waters.

    Describe the controversy related to global climate change, include a criticism of the pro-climate change "data"

    Many conservationalists blame humans for climate change and sometimes desire to go to drastic measures to stop it (genocide, etc.), predictions versus actual data.

    CITIES

    Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of 1975: Makes it illegal to export or import elephant ivory, rhino horns, tiger skins, live endangered birds, lizards, fish, and orchids; anything produced by or currently endangered.

    IUCN

    The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources lists 17,741 endangered and threatened species: Nearly one-fifth of mammals, nearly one-third amphibians, replies, fish. Hhas no direct jurisdiction for slowing the loss of those species. Within the United States, the ESA provides mechanisms for reducing species losses.

    ESA

    The Endangered Species Act, protects biodiversity and targets habitats that are at risk. Provides criteria for species at risk, direction for planning recovery, assistance to landowners to help them find ways to help both populations, and enforcement of measures to protect species and their habitats.

    ESA successes

    The brown pelican, the peregrine falcon, the American alligator and the bald eagle.

    ESA Controversies

    The Tennessee Valley Authority and the snail darter, and with the timber industry and the northern spotted owl.

    What is a biodiversity hotspot and what is their importance in conserving biodiversity/identify endemic species

    An area with exceptional concentration of diverse species and unusually high endemic. They are important because they are said to be the area where evolution is occurring. Species found in only one location, such as the Siberian tiger, macaw, etc.

    Describe the factors that contribute to the environmental "crisis" that many conservationists view is upon us.

    Resource depletion and pollution are the keys to the current ecological crisis, as caused by industrialization and the ecological footprint.

    Describe ethics as articulated by Aldos Leopold.

    Ethics constrains self serving behavior in deference to some other good.

    Articulate the biblically based rationale discussed in class for our care of God's creation and differentiate between intrinsic and instrumental value in your rationale

    Intrinsic value- value in and of itself- does not arise from utility. Creation is considered valuable by divine decree. Instumental value - value that takes a utilitarian approach as a mere means to human ends

    What is the Principle of Mass Balance? How does it relate to care of the environment?

    Must account for the mass of nutrients or contaminants that are introduced or removed in an ecosystem. This reflects the law of conservation. The nutrients or contaminants if introduced into as system will remain where they are in their original form, move elsewhere via a transport process, and undergo a biochemical transformation into a another substance (CO2 to glucose).

    Identify the three "facts" that Krough maintains that the Theory of Evolution has established and identify how they are in opposition to the Biblical account of origins. [ALE assignment]

    1. Species are not immutable nor static- they do change 2. Evolutionary processes can be extended to account for nearly all of the diversity of life 3. Primary mechanism of change

    How does origin science differ from other science according to Mayr?

    "We still treasure these stories as part of our cultural heritage; but we turn to science when we want to learn the real truth about the history of the world. Creationism is in conflict with the findings of science."

    It has been said in class that the origins issue is not about the evidence but about philosophical commitments and worldviews. Explain how Mayr's view on the difference between origin science and other science may support this view.

    His quote show he is more likely to assume the side of evolution, and make exceptions for evolution that he is not willing to make for creationism.

    What is Oparin's hypothesis regarding the formation of the first biomolecules or abiogenesis? Stanley Miller and Harold Urey performed an experiment to test the hypothesis. What did they produce as a result of their test and what are the criticisms of their test and its design? See Active Learning Exercise: Evolution of Biomolecules.

    Life originates from non-living matter in a series of gradual steps: simple chemicals, monomers, polymers, cell.

    Embryology

    Ernt Haeckel says embryos of all vertebrates have deep structural similarities and these similarities are said to clearly show evidence for evolutionary relationships. Earl stages of vertebrate embryos exhibit features common to the phylum before developing the distinguishing characteristics. Critique: Haeckels drawings misrepresented the features of the embryos, exaggerating their similarities- left out of the earliest stages of the embryo development. Vertebrate embryos are strikingly different at early on stages, and where they are must similar is the missile of their development.

    List 2 claims inferred from embryology

    Embryos of all vertebrates have deep structural similarities and these deep similarities are said to clearly show evidence for evolutionary relationships. Early stages of vertebrate embryos exhibit features common to the phylum before developing the distinguishing characteristics.

    Describe the hourglass conundrum

    Vertebrate embryos are most similar to each other in middle phase of development, but vary greatly during earliest and latest stages of development.

    Fossil record

    If evolution was proceeding in nature, then we would espect to see the following: Simple creatures fossilized the older they are Links between the simple organisms in the bottom layers and the more complex in above layers. Critique: Fossil record makes jumps from one type of an organism to another.

    Macroevolution predicts what 2 observations in the fossil record?

    1. Fossilized simple creatures would be found in the older layers of sedimentary rock and the more complex (or higher evolved) should occur in the younger layers of sedimentary rock. 2. Links between the simple organisms in the bottom layers and the more complex in the above layers.

    What is the view of Mayr and Gould concerning the fossil record and transition forms?

    Fossil record seems to document saltations (jumps) from one type of organism to another.

    What explanations are proposed by Mayr and Gould as the problem(s) with the fossil record?

    Fossil record is one of discontinuities (gaps) in what should be continuous, gradual and steady changes from ancestral forms to the descendants. General picture is that no fossil connecting links occurs between most groups of animals and in plants the lack of connecting links is more pronounced. Only a small fraction of organisms that once lived are fossilized. Highly improbable that any organisms become fossilized.

    Describe Gould's punctuated equilibrium hypothesis and what it attempts to explain. What evidence does it rest upon?

    Species change quickly followed by periods of stagnation (bottlenecks and founder's effects). Rests upon Cambrian explosion. Seems to support Polyphyletic view of the hstory of life.

    Polyphetic view

    multiple common ancestors, one for each "kind"

    Molecular Homologies

    Crytochrome C is found in nearly all organisms. Critique: This pokes holes in the other aspects of evolution. Humans would be more related to elephants than they are to rodents, which is not in lime with what scientists believe about current humans more closely related to rodents. This also does not relet to the Cambrian explosion.

    Describe how cytochrome C and its appearance in many different species is used to argue for a common ancestor.

    Molecule found in virtually all organisms - electron transport protein found in mitochondria. Changes in amino acid sequence in the protein between species over time. The amount of homology determines how close together different groups are.

    What are the major criticisms of using molecular homologies to argue for macroevolution and a common ancestor?

    Organisms that are more distantly related have accumulated a greater number of difference in their genomes, similar genes, and amino acid sequences in proteins. An evolutionary tree is constructed based upon the principle that the more similar the nucleotide sequence, the more closely related the species.

    Based on Michael Denton's re-organizing of the cytochrome c data (see the table in the ppt slide) critique what evolution would predict about the "distance" between groups of organisms.

    One gene gives one version of the tree of life, while another gene gives a highly different, and conflicting, version of the tree. The standard mammalian tree places humans more closely related to rodents than to elephants. But studies of a certain type of DNA called microRNA genes have suggested the opposite --that humans were closer to elephants than rodents. Such conflicts between gene-based trees are extremely common.

    Morphological Homologies

    Represent features shared by common ancestry

    Comparative morphology

    Similarities and differences in body plans/structures among groups of different organisms: Parts of different organisms that serve different functions but have the same internal structure and develop from the same embryological pathway. Inferred that the correspondence of different features in different organisms is due to inheritance from a common ancestor. Inherited the structure from an ancestor then evolved modifications to adapt to the needs of the individuals Organisms have similar structure from. creature to creature. Critique: these similar structures do not preform similar tasks, and also different feature preform the same task.

    What is Mayr's comment about homologies?

    Homology cannot be proven, it must be inferred.

    How would an interventionist look at the evidence of morphological homologies? What logic or rationale would support such a view?

    Non-homologous structures should be regulated by non- homologous genes. Human, cephalopod, & insect eyes -BUT NO. Homologous structures should be built by homologous genes: Fruit Fly vs. Wasp, Vertebrate gut BUT NO! Incongruence between phylogenies derived from morphological versus molecular analyses, and between trees based on different subsets of molecular sequences has become pervasive as datasets have expanded rapidly in both characters and species.

    There is a list of 5 claims made by Interventionists about evolution that one author states are wrong or misconceptions. Identify the two that should not be used by interventionists and provide a counter argument to the other 3 listed as falsehoods.

    Evolutionary changes are inherited by genes Changes have occurred through microevolution and speciation Changes accumulate through the ages to produce organisms different enough to call them different families orders, classes, etc. Populations evolve, not individuals. Evolution of a population is the change in allele frequency in a gene pool

    Using the slides from class and Chapter 8 from Case for the Creator explain Behe's idea of irreducible complexity.

    Many structures and processes in living things have so many interdependent parts and steps in their actions that they could not operate unless all the components were present simultaneously in their finished state. Something that is so amazingly complex, it had to be fully formed and functional from the beginning or it could not exist at all (Behe).

    anthropocentric view

    intrinsic value - humans only value of nature - instrumental human's place in nature - lord and master

    biocentric

    intrinsic value - individual organisms value of nature - intrinsic individualistic human's place in nature - one among equals

    Ecocentric

    intrinsic value - populations of species ecosystems value of nature - intrinsic holistic human's place in nature - one among equals

    judeo-christian stewardship ethics

    intrinsic value - species, kinds, creation as a whole value of nature - intrinsic, holistic human's place in nature - caretaker

    endemic species

    species that are native to and found only within a limited area, easily become extinct