ESS 3.

2 Origins of biodiversity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yvEDqrc3XE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3265bno2X0

http://darwin-online.org.uk/ - Charles Darwin, who first proposed the theory of evolution

through natural selection
https://richarddawkins.net/ - Richard Dawkins, a modern advocate of Darwin’s theory

1. Describe the mechanism of natural selection, through which evolution takes place.
Use the Galagagos islands as a named example

2. What is speciation and why does it involve some form of isolation, geographic or
otherwise?

3. Geographical isolation is needed for the formation of new species, otherwise

interbreeding would cause the genes from two populations to continue to mix.
Describe how geographical isolation can lead to the formation of new species

4. Give some examples of environmental changes that could cause the isolation of
populations

Questions to hand in
1. Explain how tectonic plate activity has influenced evolution and biodiversity
2. Discuss the causes of mass extinctions