Module 4 Intro
1. Module 4 Intro
Module 4—Mechanisms of Population Change
Module Introduction
In this module you will examine how populations evolve or change over time. You will look at the processes, requirements, and evidence for evolution. This module will use the ecological terms discussed in Module 3 and relate them to population change. Prior knowledge about the role sexual reproduction plays in creating change will be explored.
Humans were not always the emotionally and mentally complex beings that they are today. Could you imagine what the world would be like if nothing had changed from the age of dinosaurs or from the prehistoric time of Neanderthals? How have people become such different animals?
Looking at ancestry helps us to see where new species branch off from their origins. Knowing how organisms are classified, as you learned in Module 3, can show where new species arise by tracing backwards through the levels of classification. It is a method for tracing ancestry. In order to hypothesize why organisms diversify as Earth ages, we must look at factors such as genetic mutation, sexual reproduction, and survival of the fittest. There are several theories that serve as the basis for modern ideas of evolutionary change. Researchers and scientists have found evidence that they propose is proof that species have evolved from ancestral forms. As you work through this module, these ideas will help you explore the question “How do populations evolve?” This will lead you to predict how new species can arise.
By the end of this module you will have completed lesson assignments that are to be marked by your teacher and others that help to build confidence in your ability to understand, interpret, and express key course concepts. Everything should be saved in your course folder so that you are able to review pieces of information for exams, project work, or discussions.