Evolution / Fossil Record
The history of life on Planet Earth is recorded in the rocks as fossil remains. When these fossil remains are considered in the context of the Earth's geological history, scientists can begin to describe the changes in organisms that have taken place over vast expanses of time and in turn describe the evolution of life.
Making the Transition from Water to Land
The vertebrates that underwent the evolutionary transition from life in water to life on land faced four basic adaptive challenges.
The vertebrates that underwent the evolutionary transition from life in water to life on land faced four basic adaptive challenges.
Mammal Evolution and Diversification
Mammal Evolution and Diversification
Mammal Evolution and Diversification
A Timeline of Evolution
A Timeline of Evolution
A Timeline of Evolution
A Brief History of Life on Earth
To better understand the animals that inhabit our present-day world, it helps to examine the broad history of life. By grasping how organisms, past and present, have evolved and diversified throughout the history of our planet, we can better appreciate the animals and wildlife that surround us today.
To better understand the animals that inhabit our present-day world, it helps to examine the broad history of life. By grasping how organisms, past and present, have evolved and diversified throughout the history of our planet, we can better appreciate the animals and wildlife that surround us today.
A Timeline of Geologic and Evolutionary Events
The chart in this article provides brief information about the various eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages that are used to describe the Earth's history.
The chart in this article provides brief information about the various eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages that are used to describe the Earth's history.
Alfred Russel Wallace - Founder of a Great Divide
Alfred Russel Wallace was a self-taught naturalist who is best known for developing a theory of evolutionary origin at about the same time Charles Darwin was putting the finishing touches on his theory of natural selection.
Alfred Russel Wallace was a self-taught naturalist who is best known for developing a theory of evolutionary origin at about the same time Charles Darwin was putting the finishing touches on his theory of natural selection.
Evolution / Natural Selection
The study of evolution provides a foundation for our understanding of the history of life. Evolution—which can be defined briefly as descent with modification—provides us with the scientific framework to investigate how species change over time and how various groups of living organisms relate to one another.
The study of evolution provides a foundation for our understanding of the history of life. Evolution—which can be defined briefly as descent with modification—provides us with the scientific framework to investigate how species change over time and how various groups of living organisms relate to one another.
Evolution 101 - An Introduction to Evolution
Evolution is change over time. Under this broad definition, evolution can refer to a variety of changes that occur over time—the uplifting of mountains, the erosion of riverbeds, or the creation of new species.
Evolution is change over time. Under this broad definition, evolution can refer to a variety of changes that occur over time—the uplifting of mountains, the erosion of riverbeds, or the creation of new species.
How Fossils are Prepared
Fossil preparation is a process by which paleontologists (or fossil preparators) remove the sediment or rock—also referred to as matrix—in which the fossil is preserved.
Fossil preparation is a process by which paleontologists (or fossil preparators) remove the sediment or rock—also referred to as matrix—in which the fossil is preserved.
How Fossils Form
Fossils are the remains of organisms that lived in the distant past. For a specimen to be considered a fossil, it must be of a specified minimum age (often designated as greater than 10,000 years).
Fossils are the remains of organisms that lived in the distant past. For a specimen to be considered a fossil, it must be of a specified minimum age (often designated as greater than 10,000 years).
London's Peppered Moth
Read about H.B.D. Kettlewell, an English physician with an interest in butterfly and moth collecting, who in the 1950's decided to study the unexplained color variations of the peppered moth.
Read about H.B.D. Kettlewell, an English physician with an interest in butterfly and moth collecting, who in the 1950's decided to study the unexplained color variations of the peppered moth.
The Basics of Vertebrate Evolution
Vertebrates are well-known group animals that include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. The defining characteristic of vertebrates is their backbone, a trait that showed up in the fossil record about 500 million years ago during the Ordovician period.
Vertebrates are well-known group animals that include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. The defining characteristic of vertebrates is their backbone, a trait that showed up in the fossil record about 500 million years ago during the Ordovician period.
The Evolutionary Lessons of Marsupials
I'd wager that a marsupial mammal, given a lecture hall and a podium, could teach a fantastic course in evolution. Over millions of years, these amazing creatures have seen it all: divergent evolution, parallel evolution, and convergent evolution.
I'd wager that a marsupial mammal, given a lecture hall and a podium, could teach a fantastic course in evolution. Over millions of years, these amazing creatures have seen it all: divergent evolution, parallel evolution, and convergent evolution.