Darwin's Theory of Evolution

Set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Galapagos Islands

A small cluster of islands off the west coast of South America, pivotal in Darwin's theory development.

Adaptation

Characteristics that enhance survival and reproduction in specific environments.

Hood Island Tortoise

A tortoise with a long neck and curved shell adapted for feeding on sparse vegetation.

Isabela Island Tortoise

Has a dome-shaped shell and a short neck, adapted to abundant low-growing vegetation.

Pinta Island Tortoise

A tortoise with an intermediate shell shape between that of the Hood and Isabela tortoises.

Theory of Evolution

Darwin's explanation for the diversity of life, proposing that modern organisms have descended from ancient ones.

Biological Diversity

The variety of living things that inhabit Earth.

Scientific Theory

An explanation based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning, supported by evidence.

Fossil

The preserved remains of ancient organisms.

Catastrophism

Cuvier's hypothesis that events in the past occurred suddenly and caused extinctions.

Uniformitarianism

Lyell's principle that the same geological processes operate today as in the past.

Natural Selection

Darwin's process by which individuals with beneficial traits reproduce more successfully.

Survival of the Fittest

The idea that only organisms best adapted to their environment will survive and reproduce.

Ancestral Species

Original species from which later species evolved after isolation.

Geological Change

The alteration of Earth's structure over time through natural processes.

Extinction

The permanent loss of a species when no members survive.

Common Descent

The concept that all organisms share a common ancestor.

Thomas Malthus

A theorist whose ideas on population growth influenced Darwin's thinking.

Charles Lyell

Geologist who proposed that geological forces at work today also influenced past Earth changes.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

Early evolutionary theorist known for the Theory of Acquired Characteristics.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Finches

Birds studied by Darwin that showed variations in beak size based on available food sources.

Strata

Layers of rock used to study Earth's geological history.

Evolutionary Biologist

A scientist who studies how organisms change over time.

Naturalist

A person who studies nature, such as flora and fauna.

Voyage of the HMS Beagle

Darwin's significant 5-year trip that contributed to his theory of evolution.

Adaptation Examples

Specific traits making organisms suitable for their environments, like camouflage.

Biogeography

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographical space.

Vestigial Structures

Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution.

Darwin's Observations

Noted the variety and adaptation among organisms during his travels.

Scrutiny of Theories

The method by which scientists evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories.

Descent with Modification

The principle that species evolve over time while retaining some of their ancestral traits.

Species Variation

Differences among individuals in a species that can lead to evolution.

Morphological Adaptations

Physical changes in organisms that enhance survival.

Behavioral Adaptations

Actions that organisms take to survive in their environments.

Environmental Pressure

Factors in the environment that affect an organism's chances of survival.

Microevolution

Small evolutionary changes typically evident within a population.

Macroevolution

Larger evolutionary changes that occur over extended periods.

Darwin's Theory Publication Year

1859, the year Darwin published 'On the Origin of Species'.

Heritable Variation

Genetic differences among individuals that can be passed on to the next generation.

Isolation

Separation that can lead to speciation by limiting gene flow between populations.

Adaptations' Origin Question

Darwin was curious about how adaptations formed in organisms.

Evidence for Evolution

Fossils, genetic similarities, and anatomical comparisons supporting evolutionary theory.

Reproductive Success

The ability of an organism to produce offspring that survive to reproductive age.

Fitness in Natural Selection

An organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Fossil Record

Historical sequence of life known through the study of fossils.

Geological Features

Characteristics of Earth's structure resulting from various geological processes.

Variability in Species

Different characteristics found within populations, crucial for natural selection.

Darwin's Hypothesis on Species

He hypothesized that separate species evolved from a common ancestral species.

Adaptation to Climate

Organisms evolve traits suited to their climates and habitats.