3.2 Origins of Biodiversity

Question 1

What is evolution

Answer 1

Gradual change in genetic character of populations over generations via natural selection

Question 2

Mechanism that natural selection follows (3)

Answer 2

genetic variation - survival of the fittest - offspring inherit genes that have more advantages in the environment

Question 3

What is speciation

Answer 3

Formation of new species when populations are isolated

Question 4

Causes of isolation of populations in a species

Answer 4

Tectonic plate movements, (convergent, divergent, transformations), sea level change, climate change

Question 5

Mechanisms of species dispersal

Answer 5

Diffusion, jump dispersal, secular migration

Question 6

What is Pangea theory

Answer 6

All of Earth’s continents were one whole continent which drifted apart over hundreds of millions of years

Question 7

What is a mass extinction

Answer 7

Sudden wipe of species

Question 8

Baseline rate of extinction

Answer 8

1 in 1000000 species per year

Question 9

how many major mass extinctions in the past

Answer 9

5

Question 10

historical causes of mass extinctions

Answer 10

volcanic eruption, climate change, meteorite impact

Question 11

6th and current mass extinction is called

Answer 11

Holocene

Question 12

What drives natural selection

Answer 12

Genetic variation

Question 13

What drives evolution

Answer 13

environmental changes causing need for adaptation

Question 14

What does ‘fittest’ in survival of the fittest mean

Answer 14

best suited to the niche