Natural Selection Flashcards
What is Natural Selection?
Natural selection is the ‘selection’ by the environment of particular individuals that show certain variations. These individuals will survive to reproduce and pass on their variations to the next generation.
What is Speciation?
Speciation is the formation of a new species.
What are selective forces?
Factors which are selective forces – availability of food, predators, diseases, physical and chemical factors.
What is the process of Speciation like?
Speciation is a long, slow acumination of changes – individuals can no-longer freely interbreed to produce viable offspring. To form a new species there must be some reproductive barrier.
What is a Reproductive Barrier?
A reproductive barrier is any factor that prevents effective reproduction between members of a species.
What is Allopatric Separation?
Geographical separation prevents effective interbreeding.
What is Sympatric Speciation?
Reproductive barrier may arise; any change that prevents one member of the population breeding with another can act as a reproductive barrier.
