COFC GEOLOGY 105 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

COFC GEOLOGY 105 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS "From what reptile group did mammals evolve? What are the differences between reptile and mammals? - CORRECT ANSWER Evolved from Therapsids. - Synapsid skull The main difference is that a reptile has a diapsid skull whereas a mammal has a synapsid skull." "How are monotremes, marisupals, and placentals different with respect to the birth of their offspring? - CORRECT ANSWER Monotremes: egg laying mammals Marisupals: Grow in pouch (Kangaroos) - Short pregnancy - Long nursing Placentals: Grow in plancenta (mammals) - Long pregnancy - Short nursing" "What would the world be like if this mass extinction did not occur? - CORRECT ANSWER The last 65 million years would go from hothouse to ice-house." "What is so special about Purgatorius? - CORRECT ANSWER Ancestor to modern primates. Humans are primates." "How has human activities altered the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere? How do these changes alter the Earth's climate? - CORRECT ANSWER Humans put more CO2 in the atmosphere. This decreases the Earth's albedo making the atmosphere warmer." "How does the erosion and weathering of the growing Himalayas affect global climate? - CORRECT ANSWER Growing the Himalayas increase albedo which takes CO2 out of the atmosphere, making it colder." "Under what climactic conditions do glaciers advance? Hint: summer and winter conditions. - CORRECT ANSWER Glaciers advance when more snow accumulates in winter than melts in summer." "What are the causes of the long term (millions of years) swings between hothouse and ice-house conditions. - CORRECT ANSWER Volcanic eruptions" "What is the Wilson Cycle and how does it impact global climate? - CORRECT ANSWER The cyclical opening and closing of oceans caused by Earth's tectonic plates. - Opening: open equator circulation means hothouse - Closing: closed equator circulation means icehouse" "Discuss the evolution of whales from land dwelling to aquatic animals. - CORRECT ANSWER 40 million years ago, Antarctic separation = more glaciers = sea level falls, shallow seas shrink = whales go into deeper water to find more food." "Pakicetus - CORRECT ANSWER - 55-40 mya - Looks like a rat /Labrador - Long snout and teeth - Hear underwater - Better terrestrial walker than swimmer" "Ambulocetus - CORRECT ANSWER - 49-48 mya - Swimmer (alligator-ish); webbed hands - Walking whale (hands and feet) - Lon snout - Better swimmer than walker" "Dorundon - CORRECT ANSWER - 41 mya - More whale-like - Open ocean swimmer - Flippers" "Toothed Whales - CORRECT ANSWER - Fish eaters - Melon heads - Fat-filled jaw-bone cavity (echolocation)" "Baleen Whales - CORRECT ANSWER - No teeth - Live in very cold water - "Fringe" teeth = sucking in water and pushing it out with tongue - Large bodies and head" "What led the evolution of baleen whales? - CORRECT ANSWER Oligocene, where the atmosphere cooled which increased ocean productivity" "What is echolocation? What whales can echo-locate? Hint: skulls of these whales. - CORRECT ANSWER Sends sound waves out when it hits something, the whale can find it's prey. - For communication too. - More fat storage the deeper, colder water they live in" "Describe the ancestor of Primates. - CORRECT ANSWER - Purgatorius - small, tree-dwelling animals, insect hunters, fruit eaters - lived in trees - hands and feet for grasping - color vision - socialization enhances brain capacity" "Compare the two lineages of Miocene Apes (Sivapithecus and Dryopithecus). - CORRECT ANSWER - Sivapithecus: spent time foraging on the ground, powerful jaws, ancestor to orangutans, sexual dimorphism - Dryopithecus: ancestor to gorillas, parental care, herbivores, giant canines for intimidation, sexual dimorphism" "What is the evidence that Ardipithecus ramidus walked upright and climbed trees? - CORRECT ANSWER Bipedal and opposable toe" "What was the diet of Ardipithecus ramidus? Evidence? - CORRECT ANSWER Fruit: large teeth indicate mixed diet of fruits and soft plants - Herbivores with really big teeth to crunch food" "Homo Heidelbergensis - CORRECT ANSWER - 700,000 to 200,000 years ago - Big brained and brain - Sophisticated hunter" "Homo Neanderthals - CORRECT ANSWER - 200,000 to 28,000 years ago - Adapted to cold: short and stocky, large nose, barrel chest - Diet: mostly meat - Large eyes to adapt to low light - Tongue - Hunting: ambush animals with males and females - Symbolism: face paint and jewelry - Social: small, isolated groups, no trade, burial ceremony" "Homo Sapiens - CORRECT ANSWER - 100,00 to 30,000 years ago - Brain: bigger, more adaptable, faster learner, more complex - Complex tool making for spearing - Social: Communication, trade, large communities - Diet: Diverse and adaptable food; needed less food than Neanderthals" "How did Oldowan and Acheulean tools and tool use differ? - CORRECT ANSWER - Oldowan: older and used for scraping meat off bones - Acheulean: were for hunting" "What are the primary differences between H. Erectus and H. Sapiens? - CORRECT ANSWER - H. erectus: smaller brain, older, taller, slimmer, could outrun humans, shorter lived - H. sapiens: larger brain, transition to naked skin, long-lived" "What is the current opinion about whether Neanderthals might have interbred with Homo sapiens? - CORRECT ANSWER - h. sapiens migrated into their territory in Eruope when the climate was cooling - up to 4% of the DNA of people today outside of Africa came from them" "What is the relationship between skin color, sun exposure, and vitamin-D intake? - CORRECT ANSWER - dark skin: UV protection - light skin: vitamin D deficiency--> bone disease" "What are the specific morphological differences between Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens (cro-magnons). - CORRECT ANSWER - H. sapiens and Neanderthals have different brains (ours are larger) - Neanderthals: shorter, stockier body to withstand cold, ate mostly large animals, small capacity - H. Sapiens: more varied diet, cave paintings, superior tool making, traded" "What characteristics are common to all chordates? - CORRECT ANSWER Notochord, gills, vertebrae and tail" "What characteristics do humans share with lobe-fin fishes? - CORRECT ANSWER Limb-pattern, breathe air, lungs, stapes" "What characteristics do humans share with Tiktaalik? - CORRECT ANSWER Neck and wrist." "What characteristics do humans share with amphibians? - CORRECT ANSWER Fingers and toes." "What characteristics do humans share with reptiles? - CORRECT ANSWER Shoulders and legs more upright to walk ." "Where did you get your inner ear bones? - CORRECT ANSWER Stapes near jaw to hear. Jawbones in reptiles to ear bones in mammals: - Jawbone got larger but the old bones got new role--> ear-bone." "What type of skull do humans, birds, living reptiles, and mammals have? - CORRECT ANSWER Humans- Synapsid Birds- Synapsid Living Reptiles- Diapsid Mammals-Synapsid" "Anthropoids - CORRECT ANSWER - Humans, apes and monkeys - Round brain - non-mobile ears - flat face w/o muzzle - dexterous hands" "Prosimians - CORRECT ANSWER - Primates like Lemurs - Some claws - Nocturnal - Vertical clinging and leaping" "Lemurs - CORRECT ANSWER - Early Paleocene - Huge eyes - Omnivores - Tree dwellers - Small/medium size" "Human evolution order - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Ardipithecus Ramidus 2. Australopithecus Afaransis (Lucy) 3. Homo habilis 4. Homo erectus 5. Homo Heidelbergensis 6. Homo Neanderthals 7. Homo Sapiens" "Primates - CORRECT ANSWER Prosimians, Anthropoids/Hominids" By the end of the cretaceous were there many types of mammals? - CORRECT ANSWER No, because dinosaurs dominated the previous period and when they went extinct, only few types of mammals were left." "Describe a typical mesozoic mammal. - CORRECT ANSWER - Synapsid skull - Different tooth pattern - Improved thermal regulation - Hair" "What were the possible functions of the "sail/fin" on the backs of some pelycosaurs, such as Dimetrodon? - CORRECT ANSWER " "Describe the earliest known mammal, Morganucodon. When did it live? What was the size, morphology, and ecology of Morganucodont? - CORRECT ANSWER - very small (4 in long) - large brain / great senes - Late triassic - laid eggs - hair - teeth like mammals - jaw of a reptile" "Describe the effects of the meteorite impact on Earth's systems and how these effects would have led to the mass extinction. - CORRECT ANSWER - Smoke from meteorite caused a nuclear winter - months of global refrigeration, the sunlight was blocked. - delayed greenhouse warming - acid rain and wild fires. - no photosynthesis, so plants die = ecosystems die." "What are shocked quartz and tektites and how were they formed? - CORRECT ANSWER - shocked quartz form when a microscopic structure becomes deformed along plane inside crystal de to intense pressure and temperature of meteorite impact. - Tektites are small, pebble like glassy objects of earths material that have been melted by meteorite impact." "What caused this mass extinction? - CORRECT ANSWER - Meteorite impact (iridium concentration), shocked quartz/microtektites, geological evidence of impact crater off Yucatan Peninsula" "What would the world be like of this mass extinction did not occur? - CORRECT ANSWER - Dinosaurs would possibly still exists, and humans would never exists, because we evolved from mammals and they only evolved after dinosaurs went extinct." "How did sea level change over the last 18,000 years? What caused these changes in sea level? - CORRECT ANSWER - 18,000 years ago there were a lot of glaciers so the sea level was decreased - Recently, the glaciers have been melting, causing an increase in sea level" "Under what climatic conditions do glaciers advance? - CORRECT ANSWER - If its cold in the summer, not all the snow melts from the winter which allows the glaciers to grow." "What is a glacier? - CORRECT ANSWER -Needs moisture and water to form - A slowly moving mass of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow" "why does the earth have season? - CORRECT ANSWER - As earth goes around the sun and earth axis remains pointed towards Polaris, the northern and southern hemispheres alternately receive more and less direct sunlight" "How has humans activities altered the chemistry of earths atmosphere? how do these changes alter the earths climate? - CORRECT ANSWER CO2 concentration in our atmospheres is rapidly causing tempres to rise." "What is the effect of shrinking sea ice on global temperatures? - CORRECT ANSWER - Shrinking ice causes oceans to warm. When ocean temperatures rise, so does the earths temperature. - Affects albedo- less sea ice, decreased albedo, radiation absorbs" "Examine the CO2 record from Mauna Loa volcano. Explain the overall trend and yearly oscillation seen in the Mauna Loa CO2 data - CORRECT ANSWER - Overall trend of CO2 is increasing rapidly." "How does the melting of the glaciers affect Charleston? - CORRECT ANSWER - Seal level rises and could eventually destroy our coastal community." "Mammals dominate the cenozoic. Did mammals out compete the dinosaurs? - CORRECT ANSWER -No, Dinosaurs became extinct because of the meteorite impact. - Mammals were so small that they survived, giving them a chance of survival." "Different types of Whales - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Pakicetus: 4 limbs, Earliest whale, lived mostly on land in swamp environments. 2) Ambulocetus: - lives primary on land and in fresh water. half/half - elongated head and body - hind limbs used as a fin 3) Dorudon: - Deep water whale - Direct ancestor to modern whales. - lost hind limbs - tail fin for propulsion" "What led to the evolution of baleen whales? - CORRECT ANSWER - Too much competition to catch primary food, Baleen whales ate crill and plankton which was abundant." "Modern Whales only have two limbs. What lines of evidence point to a whale ancestor that had four limbs and lived on land? - CORRECT ANSWER - vesisital hip bone" "Discuss the evolution of whale hearing. How do modern whales hear? - CORRECT ANSWER - Echolocation is how they communicate. Through jaw bones, transmits sound through vibrations." "Which modern whale group has a melon on its forhead? Why? What is it for? - CORRECT ANSWER " "Over time, some group of land-dwelling vertebrates have returned to life in the sea, as air breathing swimmers. Name one group that is extinct, and one that is living. - CORRECT ANSWER Living: Whales Extinct: Marine Reptles such as Icythosaurs." "What is echolocation? What wales can echolocate? Be able to identify the skulls of these whales. - CORRECT ANSWER - Modern toothed whales: Have dome - Modern Baleen whales: flat heads - Echolocation: how they communicate" "What morphologic features link whales to artiodactyls? - CORRECT ANSWER - Ankle bone, groove in ankle bone in hippo links to whales" "Why did whales move from tropical equatorial region to southern and northern polar realms? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cold polar region had lots of fish in deeper waters - Loss of hind legs allowed for them to be able to swim in deeper, colder waters" "How did living in polar environments shape the evolution of modern whales? - CORRECT ANSWER - Loss of hind legs allowed for them to be able to swim in deeper, colder waters. - echolocation allowed whales to see in dark water and increase in fat storage." "Why is it thought that Dorundon whales were the direct ancestor of modern whales? - CORRECT ANSWER - Climate change caused loss of shallow habitats- Basilosaurus went extinct - Dorundons survive and take over deeper waters, continue evolving." "Describe the ancestor of primates - CORRECT ANSWER - Purgatorius - Small tree dwelling animals, insect hunters, fruit eaters - Lived in tree canopy - Hands and feet for grasping - Color vision - Socialization enhances brain capacity" "Compare the two lineages of Miocene Apes represented by Sivapithecus and Dryopithecus. - CORRECT ANSWER - New world monkeys: evolved first, small monkey found first - Old world monkeys: Don't have grasping tails, close nostrils - Both found in asia." "What is the relationship between old and new world monkeys? Which evolved first? - CORRECT ANSWER - New world monkeys: evolved first, small monkey found first - Old world monkeys: Don't have grasping tails, close nostrils - Both found in asia" "What is the relationship between Proconsul (apes) and Humans? - CORRECT ANSWER Climate change causes extinction of most european and asian apes." "Discuss the physical evidence and the importance of an upright stance in Hominids - CORRECT ANSWER - Evidence of Laetoli footprints of Australopithecus Afarensis - Bipedalism: reduction of heat stress, energy efficient, better vision, free hands" "How does teeth size (canine) and diet affect human evolution? - CORRECT ANSWER - Large canines intimidated other males - Shift in social behavior - Smaller canines show cooperation between males - Diet went from tough vegetation to meat (meat= bigger brain)" "What is Ardipithecus ramidus? What are some new discoveries? - CORRECT ANSWER - Transitional one to big hands and feet - Hands/ feet nearly identical to chimp - Canines to intimidate other males - Lived in trees, could walk - Sexual selection" "What was the diet of Ardi- what is the evidence? - CORRECT ANSWER - Fruit: large teeth indicate mixed diet of fruits and soft plants" "What is Australopithecus afarensis? Where did they originate? - CORRECT ANSWER - "Lucy": most complete skeleton ever found - Stood upright climbed with human and ape features - Originated in the woodlands, but walked outward to grasslands - Short legs were not suited for long distance - Herbivore" "What is the significance of the shape of the pelvic canal in comparison of a modern woman and Lucy? - CORRECT ANSWER - A larger pelvic canal in modern women indicate larger brain to be birthed" "Discuss those characteristics that mark the genus Homo. What makes our species a predominate force on Earth? - CORRECT ANSWER - Brain capacity, decrease in teeth and jaw size - Large pelvis - Long distance walking and running - Shorter gut - Social and cooperative hunting, tool making and loss of body hair" "What is the earliest member of the genus Homo? How did this organism differ from its australopithecine ancestors? - CORRECT ANSWER - Homo habilis - First to eat meat - It was an omnivore and had a reduced jaw and molar size" "How did Oldowan and Acheulean tools differ? - CORRECT ANSWER Oldowan: older and used for scraping meat off bones Acheulean: were for hunting" "What are the primary differences between H. Erectus and H. Sapiens? - CORRECT ANSWER - H. Erectus: smaller brain, older, taller, slimmer, could outrun us, shorter lived - H. Sapiens: larger brain, transition to naked skin, long-lived" "What is the current opinion about whether Neanderthals might have interbred with Homo Sapiens? - CORRECT ANSWER -Homo Sapiens migrated into their territory in Europe when the climate was cooling - Up to 4% of the DNA of people today outside of Africa came from them" "What is the relationship between skin color, sun exposure, and vitamin D? - CORRECT ANSWER - Dark Skin: UV protection - White skin: Vitamin D deficiency--> bone disease" "What are the specific morphological differences between Neanderthals and H. Sapiens? Where and when might they have these opportunities to interbred? - CORRECT ANSWER - H. Sapiens and Neanderthals have different brains (Ours are larger) - Neanderthals had a shorter, stockier body to withstand cold, ate mostly large animals, small capacity - Sapiens: more varied diet, cave paintings, superior tool making, traded" "When and where did Homo Sapiens evolve? - CORRECT ANSWER - Africa - Approximately 200,000 years ago" "Why did Neanderthals go extinct? - CORRECT ANSWER - Rapid changes in climate let to diminished populations - Couldn't sustain themselves" "Do New world monkeys or Old world monkeys more closely resemble the earliest hominids? - CORRECT ANSWER Old world monkeys resemble the earliest hominids" "Sivapithecids used to be considered early hominids, but have more recently been considered more closely related to what living hominoid? - CORRECT ANSWER Orangutans" natural selection - CORRECT ANSWER organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring -main process that brings about evolution" "why is evolution predictable in the short term, but not the long term, according to the grants? - CORRECT ANSWER In the long term, evolution is unpredictable because environments change unpredictably and environment determine the directions a species will evolve and to what degree" "normal fault - CORRECT ANSWER divergent plate boundary hanging wall moves down tensional forces pulling away" "reverse fault - CORRECT ANSWER convergent plate boundary hanging wall moves up tensional forces going towards eachother" "right lateral strike-slip - CORRECT ANSWER right side moves down horizontal motion" "left lateral strike-slip - CORRECT ANSWER transform bounday left side moves down" "anticline - CORRECT ANSWER folding where the oldest layer is in the center would see at a dorm n shape" "syncline - CORRECT ANSWER folding where youngest layer is in the center would see at a basin u shape" "law of original horizontality - CORRECT ANSWER sedimentary rock layers are deposited horizontally..like a cake if they're no longer flat --> faulting or folding occured" "law of later continuity - CORRECT ANSWER lava flows and strata extended laterally in all directions until they thin out" "law of superposition - CORRECT ANSWER if rocks are undisturbed the oldest layer will be on the bottom of the sequence and the youngest will be on the top" "law of cross-cutting - CORRECT ANSWER a feature (fault) that cuts across a sequence and therefore is younger than the sequence it cuts through" "law of unconformity - CORRECT ANSWER a surface that represents gaps in the geologic record are due to erosion or non-deposition" "disconformity - CORRECT ANSWER beds below unconformity are parallel, erosion" "angular unconformity - CORRECT ANSWER rocks tilted, then eroded" "nonconformity - CORRECT ANSWER sedimentary rocks rest on eroded surface of non-sedimentary rocks" "relative dating - CORRECT ANSWER used to find which rock is younger or older based on the layers around it" "absolute dating - CORRECT ANSWER used to tell the exact age of a rock using radioactive isotopes -- half live" "half life - CORRECT ANSWER the time it takes half a group of radioactive isotopes to decay to the stable daughter isotopes" "convergent evolution - CORRECT ANSWER similar changes in animals with different lineage -ornithopods have feet and beaks like birds -bat, birds, pterosaurs have same bones and supporting wings -dolphins and bats use echolocation" "transgression - CORRECT ANSWER sea level rise facies and shoreline shift toward land sediments fine upwards sandstone ---> limestone" "regression - CORRECT ANSWER sea level fall facies and shoreling shift toward sea sediments coarsen upwards limestone ---> sandstone" "principle of fossil succession - CORRECT ANSWER fossil assemblages succeed one another through time in a regular and determinable order" "ornithiscian dinosaurs - CORRECT ANSWER stegosaurus pachycephalosaurus triceratops parasaurolophus iguanodon" "marginocephelia - CORRECT ANSWER pachycephalosaurus & triceratops" "ornithopoda - CORRECT ANSWER parasaurolophus & iguanodon" "saurischian dinosaurs - CORRECT ANSWER sauropods and therapods" "sauropods - CORRECT ANSWER apatosaurus -- diplodocids camarasaurus -- macronarids" "therapods - CORRECT ANSWER allosaurus velociraptor archaeopterx confuciusornis" "anapsid - CORRECT ANSWER no holes behind eye socket -turtles" "synapsid - CORRECT ANSWER one hole behind eye -mammals" "diapsid - CORRECT ANSWER two holes behind eye -reptiles -dinosaurs" "foramen magnum - CORRECT ANSWER hole in the back of the cranium" “Describe a typical Mesozoic mammal. - CORRECT ANSWER Mammals stayed small with dinosaurs around. - Scavengers - Carnivores, omnivores, insectivores - Flying" "What were the possible function on the "sail/fin" on the backs of some pelycosaurs, such as Dimetrodon? - CORRECT ANSWER Thermal regulation" "Describe the earliest known mammal, Morganucodon. When did it live? What was the size, morphology, and ecology? - CORRECT ANSWER 1st true mammal. - Long snout - Diversity of food choices - Powerful, tiny jaws for crunching - Tiny! - Mammary glands - Large brain - Good hearing" "Is Dimetrodon a dinosaur? Why/why not? - CORRECT ANSWER No, because they went extinct 40 million years before the first appearance of dinosaurs." "Discuss the steps in the transition from Therapsid reptiles to mammals. What were the major innovations during the transitions? Be sure to include changes to the jaw/ears from reptiles to mammals. - CORRECT ANSWER Therapsid reptiles evolve -"fangs" for their canines, molars, and incisors. - warm-blooded - limbs under body for better movement across Pangea" "What is the relationship between Cynodonts and early mammals? Explain and cite evidence. - CORRECT ANSWER Cynodonts are the ancestor to mammals because: - Ear, teeth, hair, nose similar to humans" "What characteristics do you share with Theridonts (Therapsids)? - CORRECT ANSWER - Incisors, canine, and molars. - Powerful jaw" "What is a mammal? - CORRECT ANSWER - Warm-blooded - Breathe air - Specialized teeth - Nursing young" "What is special about the duck billed platypus? What can we learn about them? - CORRECT ANSWER They're weird. They have the venom from reptiles, eggs like birds, and lactation like mammals. They have electro-reception for hunting." "By the end of the Cretaceous, were there many types of mammals? Explain - CORRECT ANSWER Yes. Dinosaurs went extinct so mammals, with their diverse food options, reproduced without fear of predators." "Summarize the evidence for a meteorite impact causing the mass extinction at the end of the Mesozoic era. - CORRECT ANSWER High amount of Iridium in limestone clay in Italy. This is super rare and doesn't exist on top layer of Earth, but common in asteroids." "Why are extinctions important? - CORRECT ANSWER " "Describe the effects of the meteorite impact on Earth's systems and how these effects would have led to the mass extinction. - CORRECT ANSWER - Nuclear/perpetual night - Global refrigeration monthly - Delayed greenhouse warming - Acid rain All of this made the Earth very dark, from all the debris in atmosphere, which stopped photosynthesis. This led to a decrease in O2. Ocean and land ecosystems collapse." "What are shocked quartz and tektites and how are they formed? - CORRECT ANSWER Shocked Quartz: microscopic quartz crystal grains. Tektites: Glass balls condensed from hot vapor When the meteorite hit, there was a sudden pulse of great pressure to the Earth. This impact produced tektites which crystallized in the air. Vaporize-> Crystallize -> Liquefy= found in deep ocean" "What caused this mass extinction? - CORRECT ANSWER Deccan Traps, India volcanic eruptions and the meteorite." "What is Albedo? What is the Greenhouse effect? - CORRECT ANSWER Albedo: Percentage of Earth's surface that reflects into the atmosphere Greenhouse effect: Trapping sun's heat into the atmosphere vs. emitting it into space" "Why does Earth have seasons? - CORRECT ANSWER Earth's axis rotation and orbit around the sun." "How does plate tectonics affect global temperature and climate? - CORRECT ANSWER - Continent-Continent collision: cools earth - Subduction zones and sea floor spreading: warms earth with increased CO2 concentration" "What were the climactic consequences of the isolation of Antarctica? - CORRECT ANSWER When Antarctica separated, the ocean circulation cooled the Earth and caused freezing, thus increased albedo." "How did the closure of Isthmus of Panama affect climate in the North America? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER The closure changed global ocean circulation, warming Earth's climate and creating the Gulf Stream. The current took warm waters high into northern latitudes providing moisture to the atmosphere so that snow formed to build the glaciers of the ice age." "How did sea level change over the last 18,000 years? What causes these changes in sea level? - CORRECT ANSWER Sea level has climbed about 400 feet, caused by (hugely) glaciers melting." "Examine the CO2 record from the Mauna Loa volcano. Explain the overall trend and yearly oscillation seen in the Mauna Loa CO2 data. - CORRECT ANSWER Been a steady rise in CO2 since 1950's" "What is the effect of shrinking sea ice on global temperatures? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER Shrinking sea ice means that the ice is melting. If the ice melts, then that means the atmosphere is warming. If the atmosphere is warming, then the sea level rises." "How does the melting of glaciers affect Charleston? - CORRECT ANSWER Melting glaciers = sea level rise. Charleston is already below sea level which means that in the future, Charleston will be underwater." "Mammals dominate the Cenozoic. Did mammals out-compete the dinosaurs? - CORRECT ANSWER No, dinos became extinct because of the meteorite impact - mammals were so small they they survived, giving them the opportunity" "Describe some basic trends in horse evolution (legs, size, mouth, teeth). Describe the changes to horse legs over the last 55 million years of evolution. - CORRECT ANSWER -Teeth became high crowned - Narrower, U-shaped mouths - Forests to grasslands - Longer legs with hoofs, reduction of digits" "Describe an early horse with respect to legs, teeth, and diet. - CORRECT ANSWER - Small - 4 toes - browser: low crowned, pointed teeth, u-shaped jaws - similar to modern goat" "How did climate change affect the evolution of horses? - CORRECT ANSWER - Warmest since Cambrian - Grazers were needed - broad linear muzzle - high crown, big molars - put neck down - hoofs" "Provide a brief history of Equus in North America. Compare and contrast the teeth and mouth of early horses with Equus. - CORRECT ANSWER - early horses: low crown teeth, u shape jaw, pointed teeth - Equus: high crown teeth, broad linear muzzle, big molars for chewing and grinding" "Why did C4 grasses replace C3 grasses? What was the effect of this change on the evolution of horses? - CORRECT ANSWER - C4 grasses take over: only horses with enamel can survive--> only genus horse equus survive - C4 grasses replaced C3 because high in silica. C4 allowed horses to get larger, longer legs, elongated face, enamel on teeth, high crown teeth, and feet went to one toe" "Modern whales have only two limbs. What lines of evidence point to a whale ancestor that had four limbs and lived on land? - CORRECT ANSWER Pakicetus" "Discuss the evolution of whale hearing. How do modern whales hear? - CORRECT ANSWER Echolocation: how they communicate - Through jaw bones, transmits sound through vibrations." "Which modern whale group has a melon its forehead? Why? What's it for? - CORRECT ANSWER Modern tooth whales. It's for fat storage used for hearing. Echolocation." "Over time, some groups of land-dwelling vertebrates have returned to life in the sea, as air-breathing swimmers. Name one group that is extinct, and one that is still living. - CORRECT ANSWER Extinct: Icthyostega Living: Dolphins and whales (blowholes)" "What morphologic features link whales to artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates such as pigs, hippos, deer, goats..etc). - CORRECT ANSWER Ankle bone, groove in ankle bone in hippo links to whale" "Why did whales move from the tropical equatorial region to southern and northern polar realms? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cold polar region had lots of fish in deeper waters - Loss of hind legs allowed for them to be able to swim in deeper, colder waters" "How did living in polar environments shape the evolution of modern whales? - CORRECT ANSWER Adaption to cold water: echolocation. increase in fat storage" "Why is it thought that Dorundon whales were the direct ancestor of modern whales? - CORRECT ANSWER - Climate change caused loss of shallow habitats- Basilosaurus went extinct - Dorundons survive and take over deeper waters, continue evolving" "What is the relationship between Old World and New World monkeys? Which evolved first? - CORRECT ANSWER - New world monkeys: evolved first, Eosimias oldest monkey, found in South America - old world monkeys: don't have grasping tails, close nostrils, found in Europe and Asia" "What is the relationship between chimps and humans? - CORRECT ANSWER - Chimps walk on 4 legs humans walk on 2 legs. - Chimps are the closest human relative" "Discuss the physical evidence and the importance of an upright stance in hominids. - CORRECT ANSWER - Bipedalism: reduction of heat stress, energy efficient, better vision, free hands - Evidence: Laetoli footprints of Australopithecus Afaransis" "How does teeth size (canine) and diet affect human evolution? - CORRECT ANSWER - Large canines intimidated other males - Shift in social behavior - Smaller canines show cooperation between males - diet went from tough vegetation to meat = bigger brain" "What is Sahelanthropus? What is special about this species? - CORRECT ANSWER Earliest hominoid - 7.6-6 mya - bipedal - upright stance" "What is Ardipithecus ramidus? List some of the new discoveries. - CORRECT ANSWER - Transitional one to big hands and feet - hands/feet nearly identical to chimp - canines to intimidate other males - lived in trees, could walk - sexual selection" "What is Australopithecus afarensis? Where did they originate? - CORRECT ANSWER - "Lucy": most complete skeleton ever found - Stood upright, climbed with human and ape features - originated in the woodlands, but walked outward to grasslands - short legs were not suited for long distances - herbivore" "What is the significance of the shape of the pelvic canal in comparison of a modern woman and Lucy on Earth? - CORRECT ANSWER A larger pelvic canal in modern women indicate larger brain to be birthed" "Homo habilis - CORRECT ANSWER - 2.4-16 mya - 1st species of homo genus - 1st to have a home, living together - 1st to increase in brain = meat eater - Varied diet - 1st group with primitive tools" "Homo erectus - CORRECT ANSWER - Evolved at greatest climate fluctuation 1.8 mya - 1st left Africa migrated to Europe - Brain doubled in capacity - 1st to use fire - Smaller teeth and jaws - Lost hair because of migration - 1st to adapt variety of environments" "Discuss the characteristics that mark the genus Homo. What makes our species a predominate force on Earth? - CORRECT ANSWER - Brian capacity, decrease in teeth and jaw size - large pelvis - long distance walking and running - shorter gut - social and cooperative hunting, tool making and loss of body hair" "Where and when might have Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens had opportunity to interbreed? - CORRECT ANSWER " "When and where did Homo Sapiens evolve? - CORRECT ANSWER - Africa - Approx. 200,000 years ago" "Why did Neanderthals go extinct? - CORRECT ANSWER - Rapid changes in climate led to diminished populations - couldn't sustain themselves" "How have human activities altered the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere? How do these changes alter the Earth's climate? - CORRECT ANSWER - huge worldwide population - developing and industrializing countries - increase in GHG - increase in global temps." "Has the world warmed? Provide several lines of evidence that point to a warming climate. - CORRECT ANSWER Yes, the recent decrease in northern sea ice - today, atmospheric CO2 concentrations exceed 390 ppm" "What is the relationship of CO2 and global atmospheric temperatures? - CORRECT ANSWER The amount of CO2 present depend on the rate of sea floor spreading. - fast sea floor spreading: when volcanism increase, there is more CO2 - slower spreading: less volcanism - colder climate - Increased mountains lead to increased weathering, which removes CO2 from the atmosphere --> leads to global cooling" "Why is there such concern about a 1 degree C increase in global mean temperature? - CORRECT ANSWER Because it does take much to melt ice. If ice is melted, sea level will rise causing flooding." "What is natural selection and how can it be a mechanism for evolutionary change? Descent with modification? - CORRECT ANSWER Natural selection: only the best organisms adapted to their environment tend to survive and carry on thud traits to future generations (survival of fittest) Descent with modification: shared similar structures show ancestral connections; describes how species inherit from the surviving species" "How are natural selection, descent with modification and evolution related? - CORRECT ANSWER " "What is the relationship between the origin of new species (speciation) and extinction? - CORRECT ANSWER " "Is Dimetrodon a dinosaur? why/why not? - CORRECT ANSWER No, because dimetrodons have a synapsid skull where dinosaurs have a diapsid skill." "Discuss the steps in the transition from therapsid reptiles to mammals. What were the major innovations during the transitions? Be sure to include changes to the jaws/ears from reptiles to mammals. - CORRECT ANSWER - more upright stance, where the belly would be under the body. Canines, molars, and incisors showed different tooth pattern. Improved thermal regulation. Hair in small therapsids." "From what reptile group did mammals evolve? What are the differences between reptile and mammals? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cynodont is the transitional animal between mammal and reptiles. - Reptiles lower jaw has 4 bones and jaw hinges, mammals have 1 bone. - Mammals nurse there young, warm blooded, and have hair versus scales." "How are monotremes, marsupials, and placentals different with respect to the birth of their offsprings? - CORRECT ANSWER -Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs; babies grow inside egg until fully developed; the only living form is the platypus -Marsupials give birth to live young; young are carried in a pouch on the front of the mothers body; stay inside pouch until fully developed -Placentals give birth to live young; fetus is nourished during gestation; carried in mother until fully developed" "What is the relationship between Cynodonts and early mammals? Explain and cite evidence. - CORRECT ANSWER - Cynodonts have the same teeth as mammals-- humans got their tooth pattern from mammals." "What characteristics do you share with Theriodonts? - CORRECT ANSWER - Mammal- like reptiles that lived from Mid Permian to late cretaceous. - Theriodont jaws that made chewing a lot easier, back teeth were larger to chew meat; - Synapsid skull" "What is a mammal? - CORRECT ANSWER - Warm blooded animals have body hair, 3 middle ear bones, special teeth structure and nourish young with milk." "What is special about the duck-billed platypus? By examining the duck-billed platypus what can we learn about early mammals? - CORRECT ANSWER - Australia is the only continent with living Platypus - The platypus swims in muddy water with its eyes, ears, and nostrils slightly shut searching for crustacean prey w/ electoral sensors in its beak." "Summarize the evidence for a meteorite impact causing the mass extinction at the ned of the mesozoic era? - CORRECT ANSWER - iridium found in sediment. - There was a crater from a meteorite. - Ash layer from fires - shocked quartz and tektites" "Why are extinctions important? - CORRECT ANSWER - resets evolutionary clock - many open niches - opportunity for diversity - new species" "What is so special about Purgatories? - CORRECT ANSWER - Ancestor to primates. So without purgatories, the human ancestry would of never formed." "How did tectonic plate movement cause the isolation of Antartica? What were the climatic consequences of the isolation of Antartica? - CORRECT ANSWER - Open ocean circulation pathways. Isolation of Antarctica caused it to cool the temperature down. Freezes Antartica" "How did the closure of Isthmus of Panama affect climate in North America? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER - It created the gulf stream - It created a colder climate, closer to equatorial ocean circulation pathways creates cold." "How does the erosion and weathering of the growing Himalayas affect global climate? - CORRECT ANSWER - Increasing mountains lead to the increase weathering which leads to removal of CO2 in the atmosphere, as a result the climate gets cooler." "What are causes of the long term swings between hothouse and icehouse conditions? - CORRECT ANSWER - Plate tectonics" "What is the relationship between CO2 and global atmospheric temperatures? - CORRECT ANSWER - CO2 increases and temperature gets warmer - CO2 decreases and temperature gets colder" "What is Albedo? - CORRECT ANSWER - "The percentage of white on earth". - High Albedo = lower the temp - Low Albedo = higher on temp - Ice reflects heat" "What is the greenhouse effect? - CORRECT ANSWER - Greenhouse gasses naturally trap some radiation to keep the earth warm, but since humans are causing CO2 levels to escalate greenhouse gasses are trapping in more heat and reflecting it back towards the earth." "What is the Wilson cycle and how does it impact global climate? - CORRECT ANSWER - The wilson cycle is when all the continents spread apart, form PANGEA, and then break away again. - When continents are spread apart, climate gets warm and wet. - when continents are closer, climate is cold and dry. Also reduces the ocean circulation." "What is the relationship between the RATE of global plate tectonic activity and climate? - CORRECT ANSWER - As the rate of sea floor spreading increases, atmospheric CO2 concentration increases. - Fast sea floor spreading = more CO2 = warm climate - Slow sea floor spearing = less CO2 = cool climate" "Describe some basic trends in horse evolution. Describe the changes to horse legs over the last 55 million years - CORRECT ANSWER - Teeth became high crowned - Narrower, U shaped mouths - Forest to grasslands - longer legs with hoofs, reduction of digits" "Describe an early horse with respect to legs, teeth, diet. - CORRECT ANSWER - Small (dog size) - 4 Toes - Browser: low crowned - Pointed teeth, U shape jaw. - Similar to modern goat." "How did climate change affect the evolution of horses? - CORRECT ANSWER - Current temperature is the warmest its been since the Cambrain. - Browser was replaced with Grazers. - low crown teeth was replaced with high crown teeth. - broad linear muzzle - Hoofs - Put neck down" "Provide a brief history of Equus in North America. Compare and contrast the teeth and mouth of early horses with Equus. - CORRECT ANSWER -Early horses: low crown teeth, U shaped jaw, pointed teeth - Equus: high crown teeth, broad linear muzzle, big molars for chewing and grinding" "Why did C4 grasses replace C3 grasses? What was the effect of this change on the evolution of horses? - CORRECT ANSWER - C4 grasses take over : only horses with enamel can survive --> only genus horse equus survive - C4 grasses replaced C3 because high in silica, C4 allowed horses to get larger, longer legs, elongated face, enamel on teeth, high crowned teeth, feet went to one toe" "Discuss evolution of whales from land dwelling animals to aquatic animal. - CORRECT ANSWER - Echolocation : how they communicate - Through jaw bones, transmits sound through vibrations"