1.8 Flashcards
What is divergence in the context of speciation?
The process in which populations develop differently from a common ancestral form.
What is speciation?
The end result of divergence; when two species have slowly evolved from one.
What must happen for speciation to officially take place?
The final two populations must have changed so much that they no longer interbreed.
What is adaptive radiation?
The evolution of one species into many different species.
Provide an example of adaptive radiation.
The 14 species of finches on the Galapagos.
What is convergence?
The process in which two or more groups develop and adapt to their environments so that they become more alike.
Can convergent species interbreed?
No, they can never be so similar as to allow mating and reproduction between the two species.
Give an example of convergent evolution.
Kangaroo and Deer (same facial features).
How do the Tasmanian wolf and Timber wolf resemble each other?
They have structural adaptations favored by similar selective pressures.
What happens over time in convergence?
Selection tends to remove some traits while favoring others.
What does the resemblance between the Tasmanian wolf and Timber wolf indicate?
They are not closely related in a genetic sense despite their similarities.
Fill in the blank: Adaptive radiation results in the evolution of one species into many different _______.
[species].
What is a common ancestor for reptiles mentioned in the text?
REPTILE ANCESTOR.
List some examples of species that diverged from a common reptile ancestor.
- Lizard
- Alligator
- Dinosaurs
- Snake
- Crocodiles.
Fill in the blank: The Tasmanian wolf is a _______ while the Timber wolf is a placental mammal.
[marsupial].
What is the significance of selective pressures in convergence?
They may lead to similar structural adaptations in unrelated species.
Provide another example of convergent evolution.
Hedgehog and Spiny Anteater.
