ANT101H5 Lecture Notes - Cladistics, Encephalization, Species Problem
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Chapter 5 – Lecture
Macroevolution
Classification
Two major organizing principles
Geological time scale
Formal biological classification
o To reduce the complexity (so its manageable)
o To show evolutionary relationships
Classification Terminology
Traditionally based on similarities of organisms
Similarities must reflect evolutionary decent
Homologies – similarities between species and organism based on common
ancestor
o Crocodile and mouse
Analogies – similarities between species and organisms based on common
functions
o ie. bird and bat
Ancestral and Derivative
For evolutionary studies, they need characters which are BOTH
o Homologous within the larger group
o Derivative between groups
Approaches to Classification
Evolutionary Systematics
Cladistics
Biological anthropologists use both in different ways
Genus and Species – Complications for Ancient Organisms
Biological Species Concept and Paleospecies
Mammals and Mammalian Evolution
Cenozoic Epoch = Age of Mammals
Success due to learning and flexible behavior based on:
o Larger brains (encephalization)