Natural Selection & Extinction Flashcards
What is natural selection?
Natural selection is the process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more effectively than those that are less well adapted.
Examples of natural selection
. Giraffes with longer necks
. Grey squirrels
Why are giraffes with longer necks better adapted?
Bc they can reach higher trees but shorter necks canβt and eventually go hungry and die
Why are grey squirrels better adapted then red squirrels?
Great squirrels competed for food and bc they where more aggressive they she te able to get more. They also carried a disease that was fatal for reds.
What does extinct mean?
None of the organisms from that species art left
What causes extinction in a species?
. Too quick of a change in its environment
. Lack of food
. Hunted to extinction
How can we prevent extinction?
. Protect certain habitats - wildlife refugee parks
. Breed endangered species
. Move exotic plants into protected areas
. Laws preventing people from hunting certain animals, fishing in certain areas and building in certain habitats
. Seed banks
. Gene bank ( genes stored of different species)
