Mechanisms of

Evolution
The Galapagos Islands:
Darwin notes:
Island species varied from the
mainland species, and island-to-island
Each island had either long or short
necked tortoises depending on the
island's vegetation
The Galapagos Islands:
 Darwin noted:
 Finches: Bill shapes are adaptations
to different means of gathering food.
 Galapagos finch species varied by
nesting site, beak size, and eating habits
Outine: 4 Mechanisms of
Evolution
1. Natural Selection
2. Mutation
3. Migration/Gene Flow
4. Genetic Drift, Founder effect, and
Bottlenecking
#1 Natural Selection:
Natural Selection –
A gradual, non-random process by
which biological traits become either
more or less common in a population
 Genetic Variation: Genetic
differences within a population.

The genetic variation in this scenario are

the genes that code for the color of the
beetle.
The logic of natural
selection on graphic form
 In these next few slides:
 Red=before natural selection
 Blue=after natural selection
3 Types of Natural Selection
that Act on Variation:
1. Stabilizing – natural selection that
favors average individuals
3 Types of Natural Selection
that Act on Variation:
2. Directional selection – natural
selection that favors an extreme form of
a trait
3 Types of Natural Selection
that Act on Variation:
3. Disruptive selection – individuals w/
either extreme form of a trait
What is the bird going to
eat?
Which butterflies will be
selected against?
Summary:
Deep in the ocean there are many sea
horses being hunted by dangerous
fish with a strong hunger for large sea
horses. Small seahorses are also
being consumed by the thousands.
What would the natural selection
graph look like for this scenario?

a. What size organism is being favored as the

most fit for this enviornment?
b. Draw the natural selection graph for this
scenario?
c. What type of natural selection is this
considered?
 #2 Mutation

 Mutation: change in a gene; alteration of

a nucleotide sequence.

EX: A mutation causes two green

beetle parents to have a brown
beetle
 #3 Migration

 Migration: Movement of some individuals

to another population
Gene Flow – transfer of
alleles from one
population to another.
This increases genetic
variation within
populations
 #4 Genetic Drift

 Genetic Drift: some individuals may by

chance (random) and not because of
“fitness” leave more descendants and
therefore pass on their genes.
Bottle Necking: quick reduction
of a population that can affect gene
frequency.
Founder effect: loss of genetic
variation when a new population is
started.
 Genetic Drift
some individuals may by chance, and not because of “fitness,”
leave more descendants and therefore pass on their genes

FOUNDER EFFECT BOTTLENECK

• a new colony is formed • having an event that kills
by a few members of the off members of a species
original population randomly by chance.
So how do new
species come
about?
 The Evolution of Species:
 Species – group of organisms that can
interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
 Speciation – evolution of a new species.
*NOTE: Organisms within the same species have reproductive success (ability to
pass genes onto the next generation in a way that they too can pass on those
genes.)

Mule He can not

Donkey Horse
have
offspring
because
+ = his parents
are two
different
species 
Physical Barriers Cause Speciation:
1. Allopatric Speciation aka Geographic Isolation
– a physical barrier divides a population
Geographic Isolation
 Common ancestor of all canines (wolves, dogs, foxes)
believed to have been part of a single population on
Pangaea.
 After the continents split, isolated populations adapted in
various ways that coincided with their habitats.
 This process known as geographic isolation can lead to
new evolved species (or speciation!)
2. Sympatric Speciation aka Reproductive
Isolation – developing different mating seasons,
mating rituals, and reproductive structures

These Bowerbirds have different mating seasons and

rituals. These 2 factors contribute to Reproductive
Isolation
Does evolution
happen fast or slow?
Both!
 Rate of Speciation
 Gradualism: – idea that
species originate through a
gradual change of adaptations
 Punctuated Equilibrium :
things staying the same for a
period of time then rapidly
changing due to a
catastrophic event
 Punctuated Equilibrium
Gradualism
Genetics Determines
Evolution:
 Gene Pool – All the alleles in a
populations genes. In other words every
form of a trait
 Genetic Equilibrium – allele frequency
remains the same over generations
 Populations in genetic equilibrium
are not evolving
 Factors that affects genes can affect
equilibrium
1. Mutations [negative, positive]
 Negative more than likely causes
death
 Positive may be beneficial
Trait Variations –
differences in Organisms
 Increases or decreases an organisms
chance of survival
 Inherited and controlled by alleles
 Allelic frequencies in a populations gene
pool will change due to natural selection
Patterns of Evolution
 Patterns of Evolution

 Divergent Evolution: one

species turns into many
new species in a relatively
short time

 Ex: Adaptive Radiation:

ancestral species
evolves into different
species due to their
different environments
(niches).
Patterns of Evolution cont’d
 2. Convergent Evolution – distant related
organisms evolve and share similar traits due
to similar environments.
Patterns of Evolution
cont’d
 2. Convergent Evolution – distant related
organisms evolve and share similar traits.
Cladograms: used to show
evolutionary history of
traits
Cladograms continued…