Evolutionary Relationships and Speciation

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to evolutionary relationships and the processes of speciation.

Evolutionary Relationships

Living things change over time and are related to each other like branches on a family tree.

Homologies

Similar features in different animals that indicate they came from a shared ancestor.

Models of Evolutionary Relationships

Diagrams that illustrate how scientists think different species are related.

Natural Selection

The process by which environmental pressures lead to the survival of certain traits in a population.

Environmental Pressure and Fitness

The role of the environment in determining which animals survive and reproduce better than others.

Frequency Shifts

Genetic changes in a population that occur when traits aiding survival become more common.

Phenotypes

The observable characteristics of an organism influenced by genetics and environment.

Allele Frequencies

The relative frequency of different alleles in a population that can change due to environmental factors.

Geographic Separation

A condition where groups of animals are isolated, leading to the evolution of new species.

Reproductive Separation

A situation where animals can no longer breed with each other, resulting in the formation of distinct species.

Speciation Rate

The speed at which new species form, influenced by environmental stability and isolation.

Variation in Speciation Rates

The observation that new species have not always appeared at a uniform rate throughout Earth's history.

Environmental Change and Extinction

The phenomenon where significant environmental changes can lead to the extinction of species that cannot adapt.