- adaptive radiation: the emergence of many species each adapted to a specific ecological niche
- allopatric speciation: occurs when a popuation is seperated by a geographical barrier
- convergent evolution: independent evolution of adaptive features in different species
- divergent evolution: geographical and reproductive isolation of a population from the main gene pool
- genetic drift: a change in allele frequencies of a population due to a chance process
- parallel evolution: evolution of similar features not present in the ancestoral form in two or more related species
- polyploidy: abrupt formation of a new species form non-disjunction
- speciation: the formation of a new species from a single ansestoral species
- sympatry: when a subpopulation becomes reproductively isolated in the midst of a parent population