Geology 105 - Paleontology
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Populations

Reading: Chapter 2, p. 30-36

We will use all of this material.

Background

Terms:

Key Concepts and Questions:

1. What are the sources of variation within a population?

A. Ecological pressures: In the text, find three examples of marine invertebrates where morphology is shaped by environment:

1.

2.

3.

B. Sexual Dimorphism:

What evidence can we use to infer sexual dimorphism in fossil species?

 

 

 

 

C. Taphonomic variability: How is our understanding of fossil populations altered by post-mortem distortion?

 

 

 

 

 

Assessment

1. What causes variation within populations?

You should be able to:

• explain three different sources of variation within a population
• explain how variation in living populations is reflected in fossil assemblages
• explain how fossil assemblages may not accurately reflect the structure of living populations