3.1 Biodiversity and Evolution

Question 1

biodiversity

Answer 1

the variety of all life forms on earth

Question 2

speciation

Answer 2

the formation of new species when populations of a species become isolated and evolve differently from other populations

Question 3

behavior

Answer 3

the formation of new species when populations of a species become isolated and evolve differently from other populations

Question 4

evolution

Answer 4

a gradual change in the genetic character of populations over many generations, achieved largely through the mechanism of natural selection

Question 5

stability

Answer 5

the ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and function over time, even in the face of disturbances

Question 6

adaptation

Answer 6

the adjustment of natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects

Question 7

mutation

Answer 7

a change in DNA sequence

Question 8

survival of the fittest

Answer 8

a natural process where individuals best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their traits to future generations

Question 9

jump dispersal

Answer 9

the movement of individual organisms across great distances, followed by the successful establishment of a population of the original disperser’s descendants at the destination

Question 10

genetic diversity

Answer 10

the genetic range that is present in a population of a species

Question 11

species

Answer 11

a group of individuals that actually or potentially interbreed in nature

Question 12

fertile

Answer 12

has the ability to produce offspring

Question 13

Charles Darwin

Answer 13

an English naturalist who is best known for his theory of evolution by natural selection, which is the foundation of modern evolutionary biology

Question 14

Theory of Evolution

Answer 14

explains how the enormous variety of life could come into existence

Question 15

succession

Answer 15

the process of change over time in an ecosystem involving pioneer, intermediate and climax communities

Question 16

Galapagos Islands

Answer 16

a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean best known for their impressive array of plant and animal species

Question 17

island population

Answer 17

a group of individuals of the same species inhabiting a specific geographic area that is isolated, such as an island, and interbreeds within that area

Question 18

diffusion

Answer 18

the passive movement of animals from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

Question 19

species diversity

Answer 19

the number of species and abundance of each species that live in a particular location

Question 20

inbreed

Answer 20

the mating of close relatives in species that are normally outbreeding

Question 21

offspring

Answer 21

young, descendants

Question 22

physical barrier

Answer 22

physical obstacle (eg mountain range or waterway) that makes it impossible for members of a species to breed with one another

Question 23

habitat

Answer 23

an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant, or other type of organism

Question 24

finch

Answer 24

bird studied by Darwin and who’s varying features across isolated populations were used to prove his theory of natural selection

Question 25

secular migration

Answer 25

diffusion taking place so slowly that the diffusing species undergoes appreciable evolutionary change during the process

Question 26

interbreeding

Answer 26

the mating of two individuals of the same species, resulting in fertile offspring

Question 27

overpopulation

Answer 27

when the population of an ecosystem outpaces it's ecological capacity to support it

Question 28

habitat diversity

Answer 28

the range of different habitats in an ecosystem or biome

Question 29

lithosphere

Answer 29

the solid, outer part of the Earth

Question 30

isolaiton

Answer 30

The process by which two populations become separated by geographical, behavioral, genetic or reproductive factors

Question 31

plate tectonics

Answer 31

the unifying theory that explains the past and current movements of the rocks at Earth's surface and provides a framework for understanding its geologic history

Question 32

land bridge

Answer 32

an actual or hypothetical strip of land, subject to submergence, that connects adjacent continental landmasses and serves as a route of dispersal for plants and animals

Question 33

resilience

Answer 33

the magnitude of disturbance that a system can absorb before it flips to another state

Question 34

competition

Answer 34

A common demand by two or more organisms upon a limited supply of a resource

Question 35

geographic isolation

Answer 35

the physical separation of populations of organisms from one another due to geographical barriers

Question 36

climax community

Answer 36

the final, stable stage of ecological succession, where the species composition remains relatively constant under the prevailing environmental conditions

Question 37

natural selection

Answer 37

the gradual evolutionary change that results from genetic variation in each generation

Question 38

asthenosphere

Answer 38

the mechanically weak and ductile region of the upper mantle of Earth

Question 39

population

Answer 39

a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time and capable of interbreeding

Question 40

gene pool

Answer 40

the combination of all the genes (including alleles) present in a reproducing population or species

Question 41

inertia

Answer 41

an ecosystem's ability to resist change when stressed

Question 42

limited resources

Answer 42

the finite availability of essential materials and services necessary for sustaining life

Question 43

fitness

Answer 43

how well an organism fits into an ecological niche where it can survive ant reproduce