BIOA 201 Midterm Study Guide: Key Concepts

Evolution by Natural Selection Primate Diversity and Ecology

- Development of Darwin’s theory – contributors
- The theory itself
- Darwin’s finches and the selection evidence in
the Grants’ research in the Galapagos
- Complex adaptations & convergence
- What makes a primate (suite of characteristics)
- Primate anatomy/morphology/locomotion
- Ecology/factors influencing social structure
- Foraging, predation, energy/resources
- 5 types of primate group structures

Mendelian Genetics Primate Mating Strategies

- Particulate inheritance, Principles of
Inheritance (Indep. Assortment & Segregation)
- Crosses and assortment - generational
geno/phenotypes, probabilities
- Mitosis/meiosis
- Linkage/ recombination
- DNA replication
- Protein synthesis (DNA, mRNA, tRNA)
- Regulatory genes
Modern synthesis
- Population genetics
- Gene frequencies, alleles
- Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (stasis=lack of
evolution)
- Continuous variation, hidden variation,
behavioral plasticity, correlated characters
- Four Forces of Evolution
- Constraints on adaptations
Speciation & Phylogeny
- Species concepts
- Origins of species (allo-, para-, sympatric;
adaptive radiation)
- Constructing phylogenies (ancestral, derived
traits
- Taxonomy/cladistics
- Female strategies and female RS
- Male strategies and male RS
- Sexual selection (inter-, intra-)
- Infanticide
Cooperation
- Altruism/mutualism
- Kin Selection, Hamilton’s rule
- Kin recognition
- Cooperative behaviors (Coalitions, grooming,
cooperative breeding)
- Parent-offspring conflict
- Reciprocal altruism
Intelligence & life history
- Life history theory (correlated traits, longevity)
- Hypotheses for evolution of “big brains”
- Group interactions – knowing one’s place
- Theory of mind

Primate taxonomy and associated features of…

Strepsirrhines: lemurs, lorises, galagos (Aye-aye)
Haplorrhines: Tarsiers, Anthropoids
Anthropoids: Platyrrhines (NWM), Catarrhines (OWM/apes)
Platyrrhines: Callitrichidae, Atelidae, Cebidae, Pithecidae
Catarrhines: Cercopithecoids, Hominoids
Cercopithecoids: Cercopithecines, Colobines
Cercopithecines: guenons, macaques, baboons & geladas, vervets, mangabeys,
drills, patas,
Colobines: langurs, leaf monkeys, colobus, odd-nosed monkeys
Hominoids: all the apes (Hylobatidae,(gibbons, siamangs), Pongo, Gorilla, Pan, Homo)

BIOA 201 - Duncan

 Primate Taxonomy
Along the bottom are the names of groups of primates that are
Primates examples of the higher taxa above. The ”Great Apes” (Hominidae) are
the only ones where you will need to learn the Genus for each one.

Strepsirrhines Haplorrhines

Tarsiiformes Anthropoids

Platyrrhines Catarrhines

Cercopithecoids Hominoids

Lemurs Lorises & Colobines Cercopithecines Hylobatidae Hominidae

Galagos

• Guenons • Pongo Orangutans

• Pithecids (woolly monkeys) • Mangabeys • Gorilla Gorillas
• Dwarf lemurs • Colobus monkeys • Pan
• Lorises & Pottos • Atelids (prehensile tails) • Vervets & Patas
• Regular lemurs • Leaf monkeys • Chimpanzees
• Galagos (bush • Cebids (capuchins) • Macaques
• Leaping lemurs • Langurs • Bonobos
babies) • Callitrichids (marmosets & • Baboons & Geladas • Gibbons
• Aye-ayes • Odd-nosed monkeys • Homo Humans
Tarsiers tamarins) • Drills • Siamangs