Evolution: A change in the genetic composition of a population over time.
Microevolution: Evolution at the population level.
Macroevolution: Evolution that gives rise to new species, genera, families, classes, or phyla.
Evolution by artificial selection: The process in which humans decide which individuals to breed, typically with a preconceived set of traits in mind.
Evolution by natural selection: The process in which the environment decides which individuals survive and reproduce.
Fitness: An individual's ability to survive and reproduce.
Adaptation: A trait that improves an individual's fitness.
Evolution by random processes: The processes that alter the genetic composition of a population over time, but the changes are not related to differences in fitness among individuals.
Allopatric speciation: The process of speciation that occurs with geographic isolation.
Sympatric speciation: The evolution of one species into two species, without any geographic isolation.
Genetically modified organism (GMO): An organism produced by copying genes from a species with some desirable trait and inserting them into other species of plants, animals, or microbes.
Ecological succession: The predictable replacement of one group of species by another group of species over time.
Primary succession: Ecological succession occurring on surfaces with bare rock and no soil.
Pioneer species: In primary succession, species that can survive with little or no soil.
Secondary succession: The succession of plant life that occurs in areas that have been disturbed but have not lost their soil.
Climax community: Historically, described as the final stage of succession.
Keystone species: A species that is not very abundant but has large effects on an ecological community.
Indicator species: A species that demonstrates a particular characteristic of an ecosystem.
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