Download Life Science Quiz 1 Study Guide What can fossils (like the trilobites

Life Science Quiz 1 Study Guide
1. What can fossils (like the trilobites found in Ohio), tell us about past environmental conditions?
(ISN 43)
The type of fossil can indicate what the environment was like in the past. For instance if the
area was covered by water and occupied by marine organisms but is currently dry land.
2. Where else can we get clues to learn about past environments? (ISN 45)
Tree rings, ice cores, rocks, corals
3. Why do scientists suspect today’s climate changes are different from the climate changes that
happened in the past? (ISN 45)
Past climates would have fluctuated in a cyclical pattern due to natural causes (volcanic
eruptions, changes in the sun’s energy, changes in Earth’s orbit). But today’s climate change is
mostly due to record high amounts of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels
(resulting in global warming).
4. What is biodiversity and why is it important? (ISN 49)
Biodiversity is a measurement the variation of species in a given area (as well as all the
variation among organisms within a species).
5. Why is human impact contributing to mass extinction more than any mass extinction in the
past? In what ways do humans contribute to the extinction of organisms? (ISN 48)
Past mass extinctions would not have been influenced by human activities because there are
more humans now than any time before. Humans contribute to the extinction of organisms by
clearing the land and destroying habitats, polluting, burning fossil fuels and contributing to
climate change.
6. In general, what are advantageous adaptations? Why are they important to the process of
natural selection? (moth lab/bird beak lab)
Advantageous adaptations are traits that help an organism survive in its environment. It is
important to natural selection because the organisms that survive will go on to reproduce and
pass the advantageous adaptations (traits) to their offspring.
7. What is inheritance? Can all characteristics of an organism be inherited?
Inheritance is the passing of traits (genetically) from parents to their offspring. Not all
characteristics are inherited. Ones that are not inherited are called acquired traits.