Week 3 Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is Evolution?
Change in population’s genetic makeup through successive generations.
What is Macroevolution?
Long-term, large-scale changes that form a new species or genera.
What is Microevolution?
Small genetic changes, occuring in the population?
How does Microevolution Work?
Gene pool, available different alleles in the population.
What is allele?
Alternate form of a gene.
What is a mutation?
Random changes in DNA sequence.
Due to radioactivity or mistakes in copying.
What role does natural selection play in microevolution?
When variability in a heritable trait leads to differential reproduction.
What enables a better survival and reproduction?
Adaptive traits. (Example with snails and shells)
What is an ecological niche?
A specie’s functional role or way of life.
Habitat
Physical Location where a species live
Fundamental niche
full theoretical potential niche
Realized niche
The part of fundamental niche actually occupied
Divergent Evolution
Divergent evolution is the process of tracing back two or more species to their common ancestor. This indicates how these species have diversified and diverged.
Convergent Evolution
Distantly related species develop similarities due to similar environmental constraints or opportunities (Example with sugar glider and a flying squirrel)
What limits adaptation?
Limited gene pool
Reproductive capacity
Survival of the fittest
Fitness measures reproductive success
What is extinction?
Occurs when species is unable to adapt.
What is weather?
Short-term atmospheric conditions.
What is climate?
Long-term atmospheric patterns of temperature and precipitaton.
List the factors affecting global air circulation.
Uneven heating of earth’s surface.
Seasonal changes.
Rotation of earth on axis.
Properties of air, water, land,
Different organisms in different places?
Because they are the best suited.
Biomes ar patchy, not uniform, communities.
