Natural Selection 7.1-72 AR

What does Darwin define evolution as?

descent with modification.

What is adaptation according to Darwin?

inherited characteristics of organisms that enhance their survival and reproduction in specific environments

What is natural selection?

a process where individuals with advantageous inherited traits survive and reproduce more successfully, passing those traits to future generations.

What is Competition?

organisms struggling with other organisms to get limited resources

What is Variation?

genetic differences among organisms within a population

What is Fitness?

ability of an organism to survive and reproduce fertile offspring

What is Heritablitiy?

ability to pass on adaptations to successive generations

What is Genetic Variation?

the genotypic & phenotypic differences between individuals in a population.

What is Selective Pressure?

Biotic & Abiotic Factors that influence survival and reproduction in a species.

What is Stabilizing selection?

a type of natural selection that favors intermediate phenotypes and reduces extremes in a population.

What is Directional selection?

a type of natural selection that favors one extreme phenotype over others, leading to a shift in the population’s trait distribution.

What is Disruptive (diversifying) selection?

a type of natural selection that favors extreme phenotypes at both ends of the spectrum over individuals with intermediate phenotypes.

What is Sexual selection?

individuals with certain inherited characteristics are more likely than other individuals to obtain mates

What is Intrasexual?

selection within the same sex competing directly

What is Intersexual(mate choice)?

individuals of one sex, typically females, are choosing in selecting a mate