EXPLAIN THE

EVIDENCES OF
Prepared by:
EVOLUTION
Rhea S. Cetore, 12 STEM Curie
What are the 5 evidences of
evolution?
 Biogeography
 Fossil record
 DNA/protein sequences
 Homology
 Embryology
 How does biogeography support evidence of
evolution?
Biogeography

 Biogeography refers to the distribution of

various species and ecosystems
geographically and throughout geological
time and space.
 Biogeography is often studied in the context
of ecological and historical factors which have
shaped the geographical distribution of
organisms over time.
Specifically, species vary geographically based on
latitude, habitat, segregation (e.g.,islands), and
elevation.

The subdisciplines of biogeography include

zoogeography and phytogeography, which
involved the distribution of animals and plants,
respectively.
Types of Biogeography
There are three main fields of Biogeography:
1.) Historical
2.) Ecological
3.) Conservation biogeography

Each addresses the distribution of species from a

different perspective.
Historical biogeography primarily involves animal
distribution from an evolutionary perspective.
Studies of historical biogeography involve the
investigation of phylogenic distributions over time.

Ecological biogeography refers to the study of the

contributing factors for the global distribution of
plant and animal species. Some examples of
ecological factors that are commonly studied
include climate, habitat, and primary productivity
(the rate at which the plants in a particular
ecosystem, produce the net chemical energy).
Moreover, Ecological biogeography differs form
Historical biogeography in that involves the
short-term distribution of various organisms,
rather than the long-term changes over
evolutionary periods.

Conservation biogeography seeks to effectively

manage the current level of biodiversity throughout
the world by providing policymakers with data and
potential concerns regarding conservation biology.
How does Biogeography support
Evolution?
Biogeography provides evidences of evolution through the
comparison of similar species with minor differences that
originated due to adaptations to their respective environments.
Over time, the Earth’s continents have separated, drifted apart,
and collided, resulting in the creation of novel climates and
habitats. As species adapted to these conditions, members of
the same species that had been separated geographically
diverge, resulting in the eventual formation of distinct species.
Example: The Galapagos Islands
One of the most famous examples of biodiversity in support
of evolution is Charles Darwin’s study of finches on the
Galapagos Islands, which resulted in his book On the Origin
of Species. Darwin noted that the finches on the mainland of
South America were similar to those located on the
Galapagos Islands; however, the shape of the bills differed
depending on the type of food available on each island. The
Islands had once been a part of the South American mainland,
but two land masses were subsequently separated and
drifted apart. The result was the creation of novel habitats
and food sources available for the species residing in each
of these regions.
Therefore, each finch species had adapted
to the local environment through the
selection of alleles which promoted
survival, eventually resulting in
speciation. Islands are excellent for the
study of biogeography because they
consist of small ecosystems that can
easily be compared to those of the
mainland and other nearby regions.
Moreover, since they are an isolated
region, invasive species and the
associated consequences for other
organisms within the ecosystem can be
readily studied. By studying such
changes over time, the evolution of
distinct species and ecosystems
becomes apparent.