Evolution and Biodiversity

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Evolution lecture notes.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms change over time due to different selection pressures and the changing climate.

Microevolution

Small changes that occur over a short period of time in a population.

Macroevolution

Large changes that occur over a long period of time in a population.

Convergent Evolution

The process where organisms of different ancestry evolve similar characteristics due to similar selection pressures.

Divergent Evolution

The process where organisms gradually adapt to their environments, leading to the formation of new species.

Punctuated Equilibrium

A theory suggesting that evolution occurs in rapid bursts followed by long periods of stability, contrasting with gradualism.

Transitional Fossils

Fossils that exhibit traits common to both ancestral and derived groups, providing evidence for evolutionary change.

Adaptive Radiation

The rapid evolutionary diversification of a single ancestral line into a variety of distinct forms, often in response to different environmental conditions.

Biogeography

The study of the geographical distribution of species, which provides evidence for evolution by indicating how species have evolved in response to their environments.

Relative Dating

A method of determining the age of fossils based on the layering of rocks, with the oldest layers at the bottom.

Absolute Dating

A more precise dating method that provides an estimated age of rocks or fossils, often using radiometric techniques.

Vestigial Structures

Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution, indicating common ancestry.

Comparative Anatomy

The study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different organisms, which can provide evidence of evolution.

Biochemistry

The study of the chemical processes and substances in living organisms that can show similarities suggesting common ancestry.

Favorable Adaptations

Traits that improve an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a specific environment.

Selection Pressure

Any phenomena that alters the behavior and fitness of organisms within a given environment.