© Yannick Wurm & Chris Faulkes

1. Geological times & continental drift

2. Natural History Museum

3. QMUL Demonstrators
William Maïté Sebastian Philip
Pritchard Guignard Bailey Sanders

4. Atta leaf-cutter ants
© National Geographic

5. Atta leaf-cutter ants
© National Geographic

6. Atta leaf-cutter ants
© National Geographic

9. Mini-summary of lectures 1 & 2

10. 3 Schools of evolutionary thought
• Linneaus: each species was separately
created.
• Lamarck: characteristics
acquired by an
individual are passed on to offspring.

11. 3 Schools of evolutionary thought
• Linneaus: each species was separately
created.
• Lamarck: characteristics
acquired by an
individual are passed on to offspring.
• Darwin & Wallace: viewed evolution
as descent with modification.

12. Darwin’s evidence for evolution
1. The Fossil Record
2. Comparative Anatomy
3. Comparative Embryology
4. Vestigial Structures
5. Domestication (artificial selection)

13. Evolution by Natural selection
• There is inherited variation within species.
• There is competition for survival within species.
• Genetically inherited traits affect reproduction or survival. Thus
the frequencies of variants change.

14. “Neo-Darwinism”
or
“The Modern Synthesis”

15. “Neo-Darwinism”
or
“The Modern Synthesis”
The same thing... but with better
understanding of how things work.

16. “Neo-Darwinism”
or
“The Modern Synthesis”
The same thing... but with better
understanding of how things work.
• Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection (1859)

17. “Neo-Darwinism”
or
“The Modern Synthesis”
The same thing... but with better
understanding of how things work.
• Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection (1859)
• Mendel’s Laws of Heredity (1866, 1900; see SBS 008)

18. “Neo-Darwinism”
or
“The Modern Synthesis”
The same thing... but with better
understanding of how things work.
• Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection (1859)
• Mendel’s Laws of Heredity (1866, 1900; see SBS 008)
• Cytogenetics (1902, 1904 - )

19. “Neo-Darwinism”
or
“The Modern Synthesis”
The same thing... but with better
understanding of how things work.
• Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection (1859)
• Mendel’s Laws of Heredity (1866, 1900; see SBS 008)
• Cytogenetics (1902, 1904 - )
• Population Genetics (1908; see Lectures 7-12)

20. “Neo-Darwinism”
or
“The Modern Synthesis”
The same thing... but with better
understanding of how things work.
• Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection (1859)
• Mendel’s Laws of Heredity (1866, 1900; see SBS 008)
• Cytogenetics (1902, 1904 - )
• Population Genetics (1908; see Lectures 7-12)
• Molecular genetics (1970s- ; see SBS 633/210 and Lecture 6)

21. Today
1. Major transitions in evolution
2. Geological timescales
3. Major drivers of evolution
4. Examples of major events.

22. Major transitions: early life

23. Major transitions: early life
• Early life:

24. Major transitions: early life
• Early life:
• Replicating molecules

25. Major transitions: early life
• Early life:
• Replicating molecules
• Compartmentalization

26. Major transitions: early life
• Early life:
• Replicating molecules
• Compartmentalization
• RNA world (RNA as information & enzymes)
to DNA information & protein enzymes

27. Major transitions: early life
• Early life:
• Replicating molecules
• Compartmentalization
• RNA world (RNA as information & enzymes)
to DNA information & protein enzymes
• Linkage of replicators (chromosomes)

28. Major transitions: early life
• Early life:
• Replicating molecules
• Compartmentalization
• RNA world (RNA as information & enzymes)
to DNA information & protein enzymes
• Linkage of replicators (chromosomes)
• Prokaryote to Eukaryote

29. Major transitions: sex
• Lecture 14...

30. Major transitions: multicellularity
Green algae: Inspiration for what may have occurred: Volvocales

31. Major transitions: multicellularity
Green algae: Inspiration for what may have occurred: Volvocales

32. Major transitions: multicellularity
Green algae: Inspiration for what may have occurred: Volvocales

33. Major transitions: multicellularity
Green algae: Inspiration for what may have occurred: Volvocales

34. Major transitions: multicellularity
Green algae: Inspiration for what may have occurred: Volvocales

35. Major transitions: multicellularity
Green algae: Inspiration for what may have occurred: Volvocales

36. Major transitions: eusociality

37. Major transitions: eusociality
• Solitary
lifestyle --> Eusociality
1. Reproductive division of labor
2. Overlapping generations (older offspring help younger offspring)
3. Cooperative care of young

38. Major transitions: eusociality
• Solitary
lifestyle --> Eusociality
1. Reproductive division of labor
2. Overlapping generations (older offspring help younger offspring)
3. Cooperative care of young
Eg: ants, bees, wasps, termites. But also: naked mole rats, a beetle, a shrimp...

39. Major transitions: culture
• Lecture 13...

41. But “complexity of life” didn’t
increase linearly.

42. But “complexity of life” didn’t
increase linearly.
2. Geological time scales

43. But “complexity of life” didn’t
increase linearly.
2. Geological time scales
Defined by changes in flora and fauna (seen in fossil record).

44. But “complexity of life” didn’t
increase linearly.
2. Geological time scales
Defined by changes in flora and fauna (seen in fossil record).
Eon > Era > Period > Epoch

45. Geological timescales: Eon > Era > Period > Epoch
2 Ma:
First Hominids
230-65 Ma: 4550 Ma:
Dinosaurs
Hominids
Mammals
ca. 380 Ma: Land plants
First vertebrate land animals Animals
Multicellular life
4527 Ma:
Eukaryotes
ca. 530 Ma: Prokaryotes Formation of the Moon
Cambrian explosion 4.6 Ga
65 Ma ca. 4000 Ma: End of the
750-635 Ma: Ma Late Heavy Bombardment;
251
Two Snowball Earths first life
Cenozoic
Mes
a
M
ozoi
Ha
Pa
2
de
54
4 Ga
an
leo
Era ca. 3500 Ma:
c
zo
Era
3.8
Photosynthesis starts
Eon
ic
Era
Ga
1 Ga
Eon
n
Pro
hea
ter
Arc
oz
3 Ga
oic
Eon
2 Ga
a
2.5 G
Ma = Million years ago ca. 2300 Ma:
Atmosphere becomes oxygen-rich;
Ga = Billion years ago first Snowball Earth

46. Geological timescales: Eon > Era > Period > Epoch
2 Ma:
First Hominids
230-65 Ma: 4550 Ma:
Dinosaurs
Hominids
Mammals
ca. 380 Ma: Land plants
First vertebrate land animals Animals
Multicellular life
4527 Ma:
Eukaryotes
ca. 530 Ma: Prokaryotes Formation of the Moon
Cambrian explosion 4.6 Ga
65 Ma ca. 4000 Ma: End of the
750-635 Ma: Ma Late Heavy Bombardment;
251
Two Snowball Earths first life
Cenozoic
Mes
a
M
ozoi
Ha
Pa
2
de
54
4 Ga
an
leo
Era ca. 3500 Ma:
c
zo
Era
3.8
Photosynthesis starts
Eon
ic
Era
Ga
1 Ga
Eon
n
Pro
hea
ter
Arc
oz
3 Ga
oic
Eon
2 Ga
a
2.5 G
Ma = Million years ago ca. 2300 Ma:
Atmosphere becomes oxygen-rich;
Ga = Billion years ago first Snowball Earth

47. End of Proterozoic (Ediacaran) biota
Dickinsonia

48. Trilobites
Cambrian to late permian

49. Geological timescales: Eon > Era > Period > Epoch
2 Ma:
First Hominids
230-65 Ma: 4550 Ma:
Dinosaurs
Hominids
Mammals
ca. 380 Ma: Land plants
First vertebrate land animals Animals
Multicellular life
4527 Ma:
Eukaryotes
ca. 530 Ma: Prokaryotes Formation of the Moon
Cambrian explosion 4.6 Ga
65 Ma ca. 4000 Ma: End of the
750-635 Ma: Ma Late Heavy Bombardment;
251
Two Snowball Earths first life
Cenozoic
Mes
a
M
ozoi
Ha
Pa
2
de
54
4 Ga
an
leo
Era ca. 3500 Ma:
c
zo
Era
3.8
Photosynthesis starts
Eon
ic
Era
Ga
1 Ga
Eon
n
Pro
hea
ter
Arc
oz
3 Ga
oic
Eon
2 Ga
a
2.5 G
Ma = Million years ago ca. 2300 Ma:
Atmosphere becomes oxygen-rich;
Ga = Billion years ago first Snowball Earth

51. Ear
th

52. Li
fe
Ear
th

53. Eu
ka
ry
ot
es
Li
fe
Ear
th

54. N
H
Eu
M
ka
:fi
ry
rs
ot
t
es
te
tr
ap
od
Li
fe
Ear
th

55. W
hi
N
te
H
Eu ch
M
ka ap
:fi
ry el
rs
ot :D
t
es in
te
os
tr
au
ap
rs
od
ex
ti
n
Li
fe
Ear
th

56. H
W om
hi o
N
te sa
H
Eu ch pi
M
ka ap en
:fi
ry el s:
rs
ot :D 5m
t
es in
te
et
os er
tr
au s
ap
rs
od
ex
ti
n
Li
fe
Ear
th

58. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Conditions on earth change.
• Tectonic movement (of continental plates)
• Vulcanism
• Climate change
• Meteorites

59. Plate tectonics

60. Plate tectonics

61. Crustal plates and continental drift

62. Fossil distribution

63. Recent continental movements...

64. Recent continental movements...

65. Earthquakes
• Some tectonic movement is violent.
• E.g. 2004 Sumatra earthquake & tsunami...

66. Vulcanism

67. Vulcanism
• Local climate change (e.g. thermal vents, hot springs...)

68. Vulcanism
• Local climate change (e.g. thermal vents, hot springs...)
• Global climate change: Emission of gasses & particles.
Eyjafjall
ajokull

69. Vulcanism
• Local climate change (e.g. thermal vents, hot springs...)
• Global climate change: Emission of gasses & particles.
• New geological barriers (migration...)
Eyjafjall
ajokull
Deccan traps

70. Vulcanism
• Local climate change (e.g. thermal vents, hot springs...)
• Global climate change: Emission of gasses & particles.
• New geological barriers (migration...)
Eyjafjall
ajokull
• New islands (Indonesia... Hawaii... )
Deccan traps

71. Climate change
Snowball earths?

72. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Conditions on earth change.
• Tectonic movement (of continental plates)
• Vulcanism
• Climate change
• Meteorites

73. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Meteorite impact
?
Vulcanism ? Climate change
Tectonic movement

74. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Meteorite impact
?
Vulcanism ? Climate change
Tectonic movement
Consequences:

75. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Meteorite impact
?
Vulcanism ? Climate change
Tectonic movement
Consequences: • Large scale migrations

76. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Meteorite impact
?
Vulcanism ? Climate change
Tectonic movement
Consequences: • Large scale migrations
• Speciation

77. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Meteorite impact
?
Vulcanism ? Climate change
Tectonic movement
Consequences: • Large scale migrations
• Speciation
• Mass extinctions

78. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Meteorite impact
?
Vulcanism ? Climate change
Tectonic movement
Consequences: • Large scale migrations
• Speciation
• Mass extinctions
• Adaptive radiations

79. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Meteorite impact
?
Vulcanism ? Climate change
Tectonic movement
Consequences: • Large scale migrations
• Speciation
• Mass extinctions
• Adaptive radiations

80. 3. Major drivers of evolution
Meteorite impact
?
Vulcanism ? Climate change
Tectonic movement
Consequences: • Large scale migrations
• Speciation
• Mass extinctions
• Adaptive radiations

81. Module page
https://www2.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk/control-panel
--> Modules --> Evolution

82. Today
1. Major transitions in evolution
2. Geological timescales
3. Major drivers of evolution
4. Examples of major events: two recent extinctions

83. 4. Recent major exinction
fraction of genera
present in each time
interval but extinct in
the following interval
Pg
r
T
P-
T)
(K
g
-P
J
-S
r-
D
K
O
T
te
La
ay
o d
T

84. 4. Recent major exinction
fraction of genera
present in each time
interval but extinct in
the following interval
Pg
r
T
P-
T)
(K
g
-P
J
-S
r-
D
K
O
T
te
La
ay
o d
T

85. 4. Recent major exinction
fraction of genera
present in each time
interval but extinct in
the following interval
Pg
r
T
P-
T)
(K
g
-P
J
-S
r-
D
K
O
T
te
La
ay
o d
T

86. 4. Recent major exinction
fraction of genera
present in each time
interval but extinct in
the following interval
Pg
r
T
P-
T)
(K
g
-P
J
-S
r-
D
K
O
T
te
La
ay
o d
T

87. Late Carboniferous 306 Mya

88. Late Carboniferous 306 Mya
• Tetrapods and early amniotes.

89. Late Carboniferous 306 Mya
• Tetrapods and early amniotes.
• Tropical conditions around equatorial landmasses.

90. Late Carboniferous 306 Mya
• Tetrapods and early amniotes.
• Tropical conditions around equatorial landmasses.
• Damp forests: tall trees & lush undergrowth: giant club mosses,
lycopods, ferns & seed ferns.

91. Late Carboniferous 306 Mya
• Tetrapods and early amniotes.
• Tropical conditions around equatorial landmasses.
• Damp forests: tall trees & lush undergrowth: giant club mosses,
lycopods, ferns & seed ferns.
• Decaying undergrowth forms coal.

92. Late Carboniferous 306 Mya
• Tetrapods and early amniotes.
• Tropical conditions around equatorial landmasses.
• Damp forests: tall trees & lush undergrowth: giant club mosses,
lycopods, ferns & seed ferns.
• Decaying undergrowth forms coal.
• Good habitats for terrestrial invertebrates including spiders,
millipedes and insects (e.g. giant dragonflies).

93. Early Permian mammal-like reptiles
Dimetrodon
Order Pelycosauria (sub-class Synapsida)

94. Permian-Triassic Extinction
Sun et al Science 2012

95. Permian-Triassic Extinction
Went extinct:
•Up to 96% of marine species & 70% of terrestrial vertebrates
•21 terrestrial tetrapod families (63%)
• 7 orders of insects
Sun et al Science 2012

96. Permian-Triassic Extinction
Went extinct:
•Up to 96% of marine species & 70% of terrestrial vertebrates
•21 terrestrial tetrapod families (63%)
• 7 orders of insects
Sun et al Science 2012

97. Jurassic/Cretaceous
•Mammal-like reptiles were replaced
as dominant land vertebrates by
reptiles (dinosaurs).
• Lizards, modern amphibians and
early birds appear.
• The conifer- and fern-dominated
vegetation of the Late Triassic
continued into the Jurassic.

98. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
75% of all species became extinct (50% of genera).
Including:

99. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
75% of all species became extinct (50% of genera).
Including:
Ammonite

100. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
75% of all species became extinct (50% of genera).
Including:
Mosasaur
Ammonite (marine reptile)

101. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
75% of all species became extinct (50% of genera).
Including:
Mosasaur
Ammonite (marine reptile) Non-bird
dinosaurs

102. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
75% of all species became extinct (50% of genera).
Including:
Mosasaur
Ammonite (marine reptile) Non-bird
dinosaurs
Most Plant-eating insects

103. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
75% of all species became extinct (50% of genera).
Including:
Mosasaur
Ammonite (marine reptile) Non-bird
dinosaurs
Most Plant-eating insects
Subsequently, many adaptive radiations to fill newly vacant niches.
eg. mammals, fish, many insects

104. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
http://www.scotese.com/earth.htm)

105. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
http://www.scotese.com/earth.htm)

106. Evidence for Chixulub impact

107. Evidence for Chixulub impact
Magnetic field near site
Crater: 180km diameter; bolide: 10km.

108. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago

109. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
• Bolide impact at Chixulub.

110. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
• Bolide impact at Chixulub.
• huge tsunamis

111. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
• Bolide impact at Chixulub.
• huge tsunamis
• cloud of dust and water vapour, blocking sun.

112. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
• Bolide impact at Chixulub.
• huge tsunamis
• cloud of dust and water vapour, blocking sun.
• plants & phytoplankton die (bottom of food chain)
--> animals starve

113. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
• Bolide impact at Chixulub.
• huge tsunamis
• cloud of dust and water vapour, blocking sun.
• plants & phytoplankton die (bottom of food chain)
--> animals starve
• dramatic climate & temperature changes are
difficult (easier for warm-blooded?)

114. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
• Bolide impact at Chixulub.
• huge tsunamis
• cloud of dust and water vapour, blocking sun.
• plants & phytoplankton die (bottom of food chain)
--> animals starve
• dramatic climate & temperature changes are
difficult (easier for warm-blooded?)
• Additional causes?

115. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
• Bolide impact at Chixulub.
• huge tsunamis
• cloud of dust and water vapour, blocking sun.
• plants & phytoplankton die (bottom of food chain)
--> animals starve
• dramatic climate & temperature changes are
difficult (easier for warm-blooded?)
• Additional causes?
• Some groups were ALREADY in decline

116. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
• Bolide impact at Chixulub.
• huge tsunamis
• cloud of dust and water vapour, blocking sun.
• plants & phytoplankton die (bottom of food chain)
--> animals starve
• dramatic climate & temperature changes are
difficult (easier for warm-blooded?)
• Additional causes?
• Some groups were ALREADY in decline
• Additional impacts?

117. Cretaceous–Paleogene (KT) extinction
66 million years ago
• Bolide impact at Chixulub.
• huge tsunamis
• cloud of dust and water vapour, blocking sun.
• plants & phytoplankton die (bottom of food chain)
--> animals starve
• dramatic climate & temperature changes are
difficult (easier for warm-blooded?)
• Additional causes?
• Some groups were ALREADY in decline
• Additional impacts?
• Deccan traps (India) - 30,000 years
of volcanic activity (lava/gas release)

118. Ongoing Anthropocene extinction?
•Hunting
•Habitat destruction, modification &
fragmentation
•Pollution
•Climate change
•Spread of invasive species
•Overexploitation

119. Summary.
• The history of the earth is divided into geological time periods
• These are defined by characteristic flora and fauna
• Large-scalechanges in biodiversity were triggered by continental
movement and catastrophic events (mass extinctions)

120. xx
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121. Don’t forget to hand in
the questionnaire!
William Maïté Sebastian Philip
Pritchard Guignard Bailey Sanders