Chapter 5 - Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology
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Created by:
KarynnaOkabeMiyamoto on October 25, 2011
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40 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Evolution | The gradual change in a species over a long period of time. |
| Mutation | A change or alteration in form or DNA sequence of organisms. |
| Natural Selection | The natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment. |
| Charles Darwin | Scientist who formulated a theory of evolution and natural selection. |
| Alfred Wallace | Came to a similar conclusion as Darwin with the theory of natural selection. |
| Galapagos Islands | Islands where Darwin observed different animals and their attributes. |
| Directional Selection | Occurs when natural selection favors one trait over another. |
| Stabilizing Selection | Natural selection that favors the average individuals in a population. |
| Disruptive Selection | Natural selection that favors the individuals with extreme traits. |
| Artificial Selection | The selection by humans for breeding different organisms using perfect traits. |
| Biodiversity | The variation of species living within an ecosystem. |
| Species | A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce offspring. |
| Population | A group of organisms of the same species populating a given area. |
| Speciation | The formation of new species because of evolution. |
| Allopatric Speciation | The formation of new species in populations that are geographically isolated from one another. |
| Geographic Speciation | The physical separation of members of a population. |
| Sympatric Speciation | The formation of new species in populations that live in the same geographic area. |
| Phylogenetic Tree | A diagram showing evolutionary relationships of organisms with a common ancestor. |
| Mass Extinctions | The mass killing off of most species. |
| Communities | Different populations that live together in an area. |
| Ecosystems | All the living and non-living things that live in an area. |
| Population Ecology | The study of populations in relation to the environment, including environmental influences on population density and distribution, age structure, and variations in population size. |
| Community Ecology | The study of how interactions between species affect community structure and organization. |
| Ecosystem Ecology | The study of energy flow and the cycling of chemicals among the various biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem. |
| Habitat | The place where an organism or animal lives. |
| Niche | The status of an organism within its environment and community. |
| Specialists | Species that have narrow niches. |
| Clumped Distribution | An area with a high population. |
| Uniform Distribution | An area with population that is spread out evenly. |
| Survivorship Curvers I, II, III | The three curves showing the rate of survival. |
| Age Pyramids | A way to show the number of organisms alive in particular age groups of a population. |
| Exponential Growth | The growth pattern of how individuals in a population reproduce at a constant rate. |
| Logistic Growth | The growth pattern of how a population's growth rate slows or stops following a period of exponential growth. |
| Carrying Capacity | The largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support. |
| Limiting Factors | Conditions in the environment that put limits on where an organism can live. |
| Density - Dependent | Any characteristic that varies according to an increase in population density. |
| Density - Independent | Any characteristic that is not affected by population density. |
| R - Selected | Term showing that an organism can produce a large number of offspring in a relatively short time but do not care for their young after birth. |
| K - Selected | Organisms that reproduce later in life, produce fewer offspring and devote significant time and energy to the nurturing of their offspring |
| Random Distribution | The population area is random. |
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