adaptation and variation Flashcards
adaptation
process that helps an organism survive and reproduce in a particular environment
3 types of adaptation
behavioural, physiological, structural
1 adaptation
behavioural
things an organism does to survive
1 adaptation
physiological
permits organism to perform special function
1 adaptation
structural
physical features of an organism that help them adapt
structural adaptation
mimicry
harmless species mimic a harmful species
2 adaptation
variations
differences between individuals
* environmental conditions determine the effect on the variation’s ability to survive
2 variations
pepper moths
colour variations: black, grayish-white with black dots. the lighter moths camouflaged into the light birch trees, black moths could not. the lighter moths had a greater chance of survival against predators, being able to pass on this variation to their offspring and becoming the greater variation in frequency. the industrial revoltion planted soot onto the light trees, making them dark. the black moths now had the advantage.
mutations
changes in dna
* harmful or helpful
3 mutations
selective advantage
a genetic mutation that improves an organism’s chance of survival in a changing environment