Chapter 15, Problem 22A

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

The evolutionary pattern of lizard.

Introduction:

Evolution can be defined as the change in the heritable characteristics of an organism in a species over many generations. Evolution is due to natural selection. The heritable characteristics that change are the characteristics that are passed on from one generation to another. The process of evolution has given rise to the biodiversity at every level of organization of biology or biological organization which includes the various levels of species, individual organisms and molecules.

Explanation of Solution

A pattern of evolution gives evidence of speciation. Some closely related species of lizards were found in Cuba and the surrounding islands. Each species occupya different niche but in some ways they all look similar to the green anole lizard found in Florida. The pattern of evolution can be depicted as that the ancestral lizard inhabited in Florida, migrated to various islands and then due to various environmental and geographical patterns the speciation was caused.

Conclusion

Therefore, the pattern of evolution can be the ancestral lizard inhabited in Florida, migrated to various islands and then due to various environmental and geographical patterns the speciation was caused.