Mechanisms of Evolution: Required Activities

  1. Theories of Evolutionary Biology: Jean Lamark (1809)
  2. Theories of Evolutionary Biology: Alfred Russel Wallace (1858)
  3. Theories of Evolutionary Biology: Charles Darwin. (1859)
  4. Introduction: What is evolution, and what is needed?
  5. What is Evolution?
  6. Introduction to Evolutionary Biology: Read this carefully. It presents the major concepts of evolutionary biology.
  7. Richard Dawkins home page. Lots of useful evolution links. Listen to a lecture by Richard Dawkins.
  8. Selection Filmstrip.
  9. Where it all began: A website devoted to the Galapagos Islands.
  10. Darwin's Finches!
  11. An Illustrated Guide to the Origin of Species. From the BBC.
  12. Speciation is here.
  13. Modes of Speciation
  14. Types of selection Slide Show.
  15. Behavior and Speciation Mechanisms (Biological isolating mechanisms, allopatric vs. sympatric, etc.)
  16. Evolutionary Paths and Mechanisms.
  17. Punctuated Equilibrium
  18. The Cambrian Explosion: Biology's Big Bang.
  19. Patterns of Evolution Slide Show
  20. Covergent evolution. Read a short discussion here. See examples here..
  21. Night comes to the Cretaceous. Read about the KT boundary. More on mass extinctions here.
  22. Extinction Level Events. A Scientific American article is here.
  23. Terrestrial Impact Craters. Background on comet and asteroid impacts can be found here.
  24. Evolution is Information.
  25. The Evolution of Species Interactions.

Mechanisms of Evolution: Optional Readings

  1. The future of evolutionary biology.
  2. Visit the Evolvovision site (don't forget to click on the TV).
  3. Teaching about evolution. Intended as lesson plans for high school teachers, but the chapters are good references. You can safely ignore the teaching references.
  4. Hear a reconstructed simulation of a dinosaur roar.
  5. Does Evolutionary History Take Million-Year Breaks?
  6. If interested, read The Voyage of the Beagle (NOTE: This is not an assignment!). The entire text, by Charles Darwin.
  7. Lung Fossils Suggesst Dinos Breathed in Cold Blood. More details are here.
  8. Read T. rex and the Crater of Doom.
  9. In Search of the First Flower.