Spring Biology DA Study Guide

Biome

Large ecological areas categorized by climate, geography, and types of organisms.

Adaptation

Heritable traits that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce.

Punctuated Equilibrium

Hypothesis that evolution is characterized by isolated episodes of rapid speciation followed by long periods of stasis.

Stasis

Condition where evolutionary lineages remain unchanged over extensive timescales.

Gradualism

Theory that evolutionary change occurs slowly and gradually over time.

Fossils

Critical evidence regarding the history of life; showcases evolution over time.

Speciation

Formation of new species when populations evolve to the point they can no longer interbreed.

Coevolution

Process where two or more species influence each other's evolutionary paths.

Antibiotic Resistance

Phenomenon where bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics due to environmental pressures.

Convergent Evolution

Process where organisms from different evolutionary backgrounds develop similar traits.

Divergent Evolution

When species from a common ancestor evolve different traits, often due to varying environmental conditions.

Adaptive Radiation

Rapid diversification of a lineage from a common ancestor into various niches due to environmental changes.

Homologous Structures

Similar structures in different organisms indicating a common ancestor.

Vestigial Structures

Structures that no longer seem to have a particular use, like the human appendix.

Artificial Selection

Process where humans breed specific traits in organisms.

Genetic Variation

Differences in genes among individuals, contributing to survival in changing environments.

Natural Selection

Mechanism by which individuals best suited for their environment survive and reproduce.

Gene Pool

Total number of different alleles present in a population.

Physiological Adaptation

Changes in organisms that enhance survival, seen quickly in resistant bacterial populations.