Plant Tissue and Evolutionary Biology

These flashcards cover key concepts related to plant tissue types, plant growth, as well as principles of evolutionary biology.

What are the three main types of plant tissue?

Dermal, Ground, and Vascular.

What is the role of xylem in vascular tissue?

Transports water and minerals and provides structural support.

What are the key differences between primary and secondary growth in plants?

Primary growth is growing up and down, while secondary growth is growing out.

What is heterozygote advantage?

A situation where heterozygous individuals have higher fitness than either homozygote.

Define disruptive selection in evolution.

A type of selection where both extreme phenotypes are favored, and the average phenotype is not.

What are homologous structures and why are they important?

Structures that have the same underlying anatomy due to a common ancestor, providing evidence for common ancestry.

What is the Biological Species Concept?

A group of organisms that can interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring, and are reproductively isolated from other groups.

List the five pre-zygotic barriers in speciation.

Habitat isolation, Temporal isolation, Behavioral isolation, Mechanical isolation, and Gametic isolation.

What is adaptive radiation?

The rapid evolution of many species from a single ancestral species, often due to new ecological opportunities.

What distinguishes the punctuated equilibrium model of evolution?

Species experience long periods of stasis interrupted by short, rapid bursts of evolutionary change.

What is a phylogenetic tree?

A diagram representing the evolutionary history of a group of organisms, showing how lineages split and share common ancestors.

What are the three types of phylogenetic groups?

Monophyletic, Paraphyletic, and Polyphyletic.

What is homoplasy?

The presence of a similar trait in different species evolved independently, not due to a common ancestor.

What are guard cells responsible for in plants?

They open and close stomata to regulate gas exchange and water loss.

List the functions of ground tissue in plants.

Photosynthesis, storage, and wound repair.

What is the function of trichomes in plants?

Reduce water loss, trap insects, and protect against UV light.