Types of Evolution & Adaptations Flashcards
(17 cards)
Structural adaptation
What a creature HAS
Behavioural adaptation
What a creature DOES
Physiological Adaptation
Why a creature does something WITHOUT THINKING about it
Stabilizing selection
Environment is relatively steady (unchanging), so species are well adapted to environment & extremes are removed from the population
Disruptive selection
Environment undergoes a variety of different (often sudden) changes that have no particular direction, & which place a high survival value on abnormal features
Directional selection
Where environment is steadily changing in a certain direction & populations evolve in a specific direction
Examples of directional selection
A dark area slowly changing to a lighter colour over many years (like the Arctic fox)
Examples of stabilizing selection
A white moth on a black background is quickly eliminated
Examples of disruptive selection
After a hurricane, tornado, etc. (Natural disasters or unexpected weather conditions)
Examples of structural adaptations
Limbs/Body features like a polar bear’s fur or seal’s blubber
Examples of behavioural adaptions
Hibernation, flying south for the winter
Examples of physiological adaptations
Pheromones, hormones, lactation, what causes the instinct to fly south for winter
Evolution
The change in the characteristics of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural selection
Convergent Evolution
Similar organisms appear in geographically different areas in response to similar environmental conditions
Divergent evolution
Members of a single species change in response to new and different environmental conditions
Examples of Convergent evolution
Deer and Kangaroo
Examples of Divergent evolution
Common ancestor into orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and human
