311 Midterm 2

Question 1

What is differential reproduction?

Answer 1

organisms best adapted to to given environment will be most likely to survive to reproductive age and have offspring

Question 2

What are the 3 fundamental observable facts about Natural Selection?

Answer 2

variation, inheritance, overproduction

Question 3

What is Natural Selection

Answer 3

evolutionary change comes through the production of variation in each generation and differential survival of individuals with different combinations of these variable characters. Individuals with characteristics which increase their probability of survival will have more opportunities to reproduce and their offspring will also benefit from the heritable, advantageous character. So over time these variants will spread through the population

Question 4

What is inheritance?

Answer 4

Variation passed from parent to offspring

Question 5

What is overproduction

Answer 5

there will always be more offspring born than survive to adulthood (competition)

Question 6

What is fitness/reproductive success?

Answer 6

an individuals ability to reproduce successfully compared to other members of the same species

Question 7

Traits that are well suited to the environment give individuals and advantage in survivals and reproduction, will appear increased or decreased in future generations?

Answer 7

increased