Species, Evolution

and Biodiversity
Year 10 Science
Mr G Langhans

Are these the same species?

Are these the same species?

Are these the same species?

Are these the same species?

What does the word Species mean?

Species is the basic unit of

biological classification

But what is a Species?

A species is defined as a group of organisms
within which 2 individuals are capable of
producing fertile offspring.
What does this mean?

Individuals within a species

have near identical genetic
make up (genome) which
they share with both their
offspring and parents.

Does this mean all individuals

of a species are identical?

By selecting different characteristics,

different species can be developed.

Cauliflower, spinach, cabbage, brussel

sprouts and broccoli ALL originate from
the same weed.

Natural selection has 4 key factors1.

2.
3.
4.

Variation between individuals.

Environmental pressure(s).
Competition (survival of the fittest).
Favourable genes passed onto next
generation.

For organisms that reproduce by

sexual reproduction

Half of the DNA comes from the father.

Half of the DNA comes from the mother.

The offspring is different from its

parents.

Sexual reproduction causes variation.

Mutations can also occur during

reproduction.

The offspring can develop characteristics

that are entirely their own.
Mutation causes variation.

What are mutations?

Mistakes in DNA base pairs during
reproduction.

Genetic mutations can be passed to

offspring.

What if there was an

environmental pressure?
What if the genetic
differences helped deal with
that pressure or made it
worse?

Genetic variations that

result in

Advantageous
characteristics
=
Increased survival
=
Increased likelihood
of reproduction

Disadvantageous
characteristics
=
Decreased survival
=
Decreased likelihood
of reproduction

Advantageous genes are passed

onto offspring

THEORY OF
EVOLUTION

Environmental conditions affect

the survival rate of different
phenotypes

What if conditions change?

Peppered Moths have 2 common
phenotypes.

They live on white lichen covered trees.

Which phenotype was more successful and
why?

During the Industrial Revolution soot and

other waste darkened tree trunks and killed
the lichen.
What do you think happened? Why?

By 1895, ~98% of all Peppered Moths were

black.

Question
Antibiotics have been used to fight off
harmful bacteria for over 60 years.
What do you think has started happening?

The Theory of Evolution.

Species change through the natural selection of
small, inherited variations that increase the
individuals ability to compete, survive and
reproduce.
VARIATION + SELECTIVE PRESSURE
ADVANTAGE or DISADVANTAGE
= EVOLUTION

BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity is the
variety of all living
things.
Plants
Animals
Bacteria
Fungi

How does Evolution Theory

explain biodiversity?
What could cause a group of organisms
within a single species to split into different
species?

Geographical Isolation!
A population is split and the different groups
experience different environmental conditions.
Different conditions means different genes are
favourable.
The groups slowly change over many generations until
they are different species. SPECIATION.

Tiger Snake populations on Eyre

Peninsula Islands
Tiger Snakes live on many islands near Port
Lincoln.
The islands were once connected to the
mainland.
Approximately 10,000 years ago the sea level
rose and isolated groups of Tiger Snakes.

 The groups experienced different

conditions (prey, predators, habitat)
Some conditions favoured bigger snakes,
others favoured smaller snakes

Species, Evolution Theory and

Biodiversity
Can you? - Define what a species is
- Know and explain natural selection
(variation, environmental pressure, favourable
genes, inheritance by next generation)
- Know and explain an example of natural
selection (Peppered Moth)
- Explain biodiversity through speciation