Natural Selection, Evolution, Organism Relationships, Species Interactions, and More

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92 Terms

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Biological evolution

Change in a population's gene pool over time, leads to changes in frequency of appearance/behavior from generation to generation.

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Gene pool

All of the genes present in a population.

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Genes

Control pattern and color (of eg. fish scales).

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Mutation

Changes in DNA that give rise to genetic variation, such as a mutation in sperm/egg cell that may be passed to the next generation.

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Migration

Population change due to immigration or emigration that causes a change in the proportion of traits in the gene pool.

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Genetic drift

An unusual event (natural disaster or fishing net) that kills/separates all but a few individuals, resulting in a different gene pool for the next generation.

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Natural selection

The process where certain traits become more or less common in a population due to the survival and reproduction of individuals with those traits.

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Conditions of natural selection

Factors that explain patterns seen in nature, including the relationship between organisms and their environment.

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Condition 1 of natural selection

Organisms produce more offspring than can survive, leading to a struggle for existence due to limiting factors.

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Condition 2 of natural selection

Individuals of a species vary in their characteristics, with variations being heritable if passed from parent to offspring.

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Condition 3 of natural selection

Individuals vary in fitness, where variations can be harmful or helpful, affecting survival and reproduction.

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Survival of the fittest

High fitness individuals produce more offspring and pass genes more frequently than low fitness individuals.

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Fitness

Defined in context of environment, can change based on conditions, and traits that are adaptive may vary by location or season.

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Artificial selection

Results of natural selection visible in adaptations, where humans breed organisms for desirable traits.

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Artificial selection with dogs

Diverse dog breeds are variations on a single species, with any two dogs able to interbreed and produce offspring.

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Artificial selection with agriculture

Most crop plants for food are based on artificial selection, resulting in diversified single plant species into many different crops.

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Example of biological evolution

40% brown mice and 60% tan mice → 28% brown mice and 72% tan mice.

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FOUR PRIMARY MECHANISMS/PROCESSES

Mutation, migration, genetic drift, natural selection.

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Darwin's publication

In 1859, Charles Darwin published 'On the Origin of Species', providing decades of scientific evidence for natural selection.

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Limiting factors

Restrictions that prevent all individuals in a population from reproducing to their full biotic potential.

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Heritable variations

Variations among organisms that are due to differences in genes/environments and can be passed from parent to offspring.

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High fitness individual

An individual that produces more offspring and passes genes more frequently than low fitness individuals.

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Adaptive traits

Traits that maximize success in a given environment, which may change based on location and conditions.

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Selective breeding

The process where humans choose and breed animals or plants with desirable traits.

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Broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower

From Brassica oleracea

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SPECIATION/EXTINCTION

Reason why Earth has many species, estimated all species today are a tiny fraction of those that have ever lived

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SPECIATION

Occurs in many ways, speciation caused by geographic separation of populations = most important (allopatric speciation)

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Allopatric speciation

Speciation caused by geographic separation of populations

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Genetic divergence

Occurs when mutations in DNA of an organism in one isolated population cannot spread to other populations

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Long-term geographic isolation

Can lead to allopatric speciation and can happen in many ways (e.g., glacial ice sheets moving across continents, rivers changing, dry climate partially evaporating lakes)

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Isolation process

Must be long (generally thousands of generations) for speciation to happen

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Speciation process

One species is separated into groups and those mutations in each individual group cannot mix with the others

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EXTINCTION

About 99% of all species that ever lived are gone, average time a species spends on Earth is 1-10 million years

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Background extinction rate

Rate at which extinction occurs gradually, one species at a time

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MASS EXTINCTIONS

5 events of large proportions that killed off a huge number of species at once

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Best-known mass extinction

Happened 65 million years ago (ended dinosaurs and others)

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Evolution

As a general term, means 'change over time'

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Gene

A sequence of DNA that codes for a particular trait

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Mutation

Changes in DNA

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Genetic drift

Biological evolution that occurs by chance

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Natural selection

The process by which traits that improve an organism's chances for survival and reproduction

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Fitness

Reproductively successful an organism is in its environment

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Adaptation

A heritable trait that increases an individual's fitness

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Artificial selection

The process of selection conducted under human direction

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Extinction

The disappearance of a species from Earth

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Natural selection and environment

The connection between natural selection and the environment, as the environment allows organisms with the best adaptations to live, reproduce, and grow the most

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Ecologist's consideration

Must consider both speciation and extinction because each contributes to analyzing the diversity of life on Earth

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Speciation's effect

New species slowly form over time and increase the total number of species

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Organism's habitat

describes the general place it lives

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Niche

habitat where organism lives, food it eats, how/when it reproduces, other organisms it interacts with, summary of everything an organism does and when/where it does it

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Specialist

extremely good at certain things but struggle to adapt in changing conditions

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Generalist

able to live in many places but not as successful in a given situation

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Intraspecific competition

multiple organisms of the same species seek the same limited resources

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Interspecific competition

multiple organisms of different species seek the same limited resources

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Competitive exclusion

very effective competitive species may exclude another species from same resource use entirely

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Fundamental niche

full niche of a species

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Realized niche

a niche restricted by competition

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Resource partitioning

competing species may evolve to occupy only realized niche, adapt to competition by using slightly different resources or shared resources in different ways

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Character displacement

resource partitioning leads to evolution of physical traits that reflect their specialized role

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Predation

predator hunts/captures/kills/consumes another organism (different species) or the prey

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Predator/prey interaction

influences community structure, determines relative numbers of predators/prey

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Population cycles

Increase in prey population leads to more food, survival, reproduction for predator; predator population rise leads to lower prey population

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Natural selection

process where predators better at getting prey are more successful, leading to evolution of adaptations

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Co-evolution

a change in one species leads to changes in the other species in a predator-prey relationship

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Herbivory

interaction where herbivores consume plants, affecting plant populations

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Parasitism

relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another

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Competition relationship

(-/-) relationship, harmful and beneficial for one and the other (+/-)

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Parasitism

A relationship in which one organism, the parasite, depends on another, the host, for nourishment or some other benefit.

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Symbiosis

A long-lasting and physically close relationship in which at least one organism benefits.

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Herbivory

The interaction in which an animal feeds on a plant.

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Mutualism

A relationship in which two or more species benefit.

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Commensalism

A relationship in which one species benefits and the other is unaffected.

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Niche

Describes its use of resources and its functional role in a community.

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Tolerance

The ability to survive and reproduce under changing environmental conditions.

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Resource partitioning

The species partition, or divide the resource they use in coming by specializing in different ways.

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Predation

The process by which an individual of one species, a predator, hunts, captures, kills, and consumes an individual of another species, the prey.

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Coevolution

The process by which two species evolve in response to changes in each other.

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Competition

When multiple species compete with each other for the exact same resources, they may adapt to competition by using different resources or using them in different ways.

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Realized niche

A portion of the resources that a species can use, limited by competition.

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Arms race

A kind of coevolution where each species develops stronger and stronger 'weapons' in response to each other.

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Natural selection

The process that does not produce adaptation for a purpose but enables organisms to better survive/reproduce in their environments.

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Pollination

An important mutual relationship where bees, birds, bats, and butterflies transfer pollen from flower to flower, fertilizing eggs and providing food.

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Mycorrhizae

Symbiotic associations formed between plant roots and fungi, where the plant provides energy and protection while the fungus assists in nutrient absorption.

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Ticks

An example of a parasite that attaches to a host's skin, benefiting while harming the host.

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Plant defenses

Natural selection leads to the development of defenses against herbivores, such as toxic chemicals, thorns, spines, and irritating hairs.

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African moths

An example of a coevolving species with orchid flowers, where the moth's proboscis is adapted to reach the nectar.

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Bacteria and human digestive tract

An example of a mutual species interaction where bacteria help digest food, benefiting humans, while also receiving nutrients.

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Effect on Species A

The impact of an interaction on the first species involved.

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Effect on Species B

The impact of an interaction on the second species involved.

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Interaction

The type of relationship between two species, such as commensalism, competition, herbivory, mutualism, parasitism, or predation.

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Predator

An individual of one species that hunts, captures, kills, and consumes an individual of another species.

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Prey

An individual of another species that is hunted, captured, killed, and consumed by a predator.