Natural Selection Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to natural selection and evolution, providing definitions and explanations to aid in understanding essential concepts.

Natural Selection

A process in which individuals with certain traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than others due to those traits.

Biogeography

The geographic distribution of species.

Descent with Modification

Darwin's idea that evolution occurs through changes in the genetic makeup of a population over time.

Evolution

Change in the genetic makeup of a population over time, involving heritable traits.

Phenotypic Variation

Differences in traits among individuals in a population that can affect survival and reproduction.

Evolutionary Fitness

A measure of an organism's ability to survive and reproduce, often determined by reproductive success.

Selective Pressures

Environmental factors that influence which individuals survive and reproduce.

Artificial Selection

The selective breeding of domesticated plants and animals to promote the occurrence of desirable traits.

Adaptations

Inherited characteristics of organisms that enhance their survival and reproduction.

Genetic Diversity

The variety of genetic characteristics within a population, which enhances its ability to respond to environmental changes.