Unit 5: Natural Selection Practice Test

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to natural selection and the concepts discussed in the practice test.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Gene Variation

Differences in the genes among individuals in a population, which can lead to differences in traits.

Survival of the Fittest

A concept in natural selection that emphasizes the individuals best suited to their environment are most likely to survive and reproduce.

Adaptation

A characteristic that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

Population Dynamics

The study of how and why populations change in size and structure over time.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that may lead to differences in traits among individuals.

Camouflage

The ability of an organism to blend in with its environment to avoid detection by predators.

Predation

The act of one organism hunting and eating another organism.

Biological Evolution

The change in the inherited characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

Ecological Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including all interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.