Evolutionary Analysis (5th Edition)
5th Edition
ISBN: 9780321616678
Author: Jon C. Herron, Scott Freeman
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 2, Problem 6Q
The transitional fossils in Figure 2.21 demonstrate that dinosaurs evolved feathers long before they evolved flight. Clearly, feathers did not evolve for their aerodynamic advantages. What else, besides aerodynamics, do feathers do for birds today? What advantages might feathers have offered for dinosaurs? Can you think of a way to test your hypothesis?
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Along comes Dr Phil Bell and deep in the mines of Lightning Ridge, finds an amazingly preserved pterosaur that preserves feathers. He hypothesises that this means that feathers must have evolved before the origin of dinosaurs and therefore must have been primitive.
How would you go about testing this hypothesis of feather origins?
Because of selective forces, the dinosaurs were superbly adapted to their environments. After the dinosaurs became extinct, the small mammals that had been relatively unimportant animals in the background flourished and evolved into many new types, including the line that led to human beings. It is unlikely that these new types would have ever evolved had not the dinosaurs disappeared. If the extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by an extraterrestrial impact, did it matter how well they were adapted to their environment? What does this suggest about the starting cause in the evolutionary success of these new types of mammals?
Some people state that the dinosaurs have not “gone extinct,” they are with us today. What evidence can be used to support this statement?
Chapter 2 Solutions
Evolutionary Analysis (5th Edition)
Ch. 2 - Review the kinds of evidence for evolution...Ch. 2 - Consider the experiment described in Section 2.1...Ch. 2 - In addition to dogs, list at least two or three...Ch. 2 - Look back at Figure 2.14d, which shows the two...Ch. 2 - Figures 2.20 through 2.22 show examples of...Ch. 2 - The transitional fossils in Figure 2.21...Ch. 2 - Section 2.4 presented two definitions of homology:...Ch. 2 - Analogy and homology are important concepts used...Ch. 2 - Figure 2.26 is an evolutionary tree showing the...Ch. 2 - According to the evolutionary tree shown in Figure...
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- The tree shows one lineage of ornithischian dinosaurs and many lineages of theropoddinosaurs. Some important traits are mapped on the tree including the aspects of feathers, digits of thehands and a few behaviors. a. What phylogenetic function do the Ornithischian dinosaurs play in this tree?b. What trait is shared by all theropod dinosaurs?c. Only two lineages are thought to be capable of flight. What trait may have helped their wings to bestrong enough?d. What seems to happen to the bones of the hand across this tree of dinosaurs?e. What other bone characteristics might be important to ultimately enabling flight?arrow_forwardFlight in birds developed over time as a result of multiple evolutionary steps. The development of feathers, hollow bones, large flight muscles, and efficient gas exchange were all vital for flight. Describe the order in which these adaptations likely evolved and explain your reasoning.arrow_forwardFlight in birds developed over time due to multiple evolutionary steps. The development of feathers, hollow bones, large flight muscles, and efficient gas exchange was vital for flight. Describe the order in which these adaptations likely evolved and explain your reasoning.arrow_forward
- Mammals have a particularly good sense of earing thanks to their inner ear which includes three tiny bones. Reptiles, in contrast, have a single inner ear bone. The lower jaw of reptiles is composed of multiple bones while the lower jaw of mammals is a single bone. Fossil and developmental evidence indicate that the inner ear bones of mammals evolved from lower jawbones. This suggests that the inner ear bones of mammals are 1. an analogy 2. an exaptation 3. a living fossil 4. a transitional trait 5. a vestigial structurearrow_forwardBirds are often referred to as “living dinosaurs.” Is this accurate? Why or why not?arrow_forwardWhich of the following shared characteristics of living birds and theropod dinosaurs provided support to the hypothesis that birds evolved from dinosaurs? Check all that apply. Group of answer choices 1-birds and many theropods have a wishbone (or furcula) 2-all birds and theropods could fly 3-like theropod dinosaurs, birds have long, bony tails under their feathers 4-birds and theropods have hollow bones that are strong, but light 5-birds and many theropods have feathersarrow_forward
- Explain the significance of the discovery of Archaeopteryx. Why did this fossil demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that birds are grouped phylogenetically with dinosaurs?arrow_forwardDiscuss: How old are the oldest camel fossils shown? How has the skull changed over time? How have the teeth changed over time? How have the leg bones changed over time? Table 15.1 Fossils are used by scientists to understand how camels evolved. Table 15.1 Camel Evolution Age Paleocene 65 million years ago Eocene 54 million years ago Organism Skull and teeth Limb bones Oligocene 33 million years ago Miocene 23 million years ago Presentarrow_forwardA number of scientists believe that the Permian extinction was caused by huge volcanic lava flows (from the Siberian traps) that may have caused low oxygen concentrations compared to the high oxygen levels in the Permian. Does this low oxygen level after the Permian extinction make it likely that dinosaurs, especially large ones, did not evolve immediately after the Permian extinction (252 million years ago)? Why or why not?arrow_forward
- What is plausible evidence supporting the hypothesis that birds evolved from dinosaurs? Please choose the best option. a) Dinosaurs and birds are both predatory.b) Fossilized transitional forms are discovered that possess features of birds and dinosaurs yet are difficult to classify into either group.c) The wing structure of a bird is similar to a dinosaur.d) Bird fossils can be found alongside dinosaur fossils.arrow_forwardBirds are unique because they have modified forelimbs which serve as wings and a body covered in feathers. However, just having wings and feathers does not mean that an organism can fly (look at the ostrich and penguin!). Please discuss at least 3 of these additional characteristics/adaptations that are required in order for birds to fly.arrow_forwardOstrich wings are vestigial because they are too rudimentary to perform the function for which they evolved in the species’ flying ancestor. Nonetheless, the ostrich uses its wings for other purposes. For example, an ostrich may extend its wings to the side while running, to help maintain balance, and it may spread its wings as part of a threat display. These uses show that evolution by natural selection can sometimes repurpose vestigial structures that have lost the function for which they originally evolved. But whether a vestigial structure remains useless or acquires a new function, it is homologous to the version that retains its original function in other organisms and provides evidence of common ancestry. But are all similarities between different organisms the result of shared ancestry?arrow_forward
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Fossil: The Language & History of Paleontology; Author: Alliterative;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9yNwRBlKtU;License: Standard youtube license