B3.5 Flashcards
Define Gene Flow
The movement of alleles between populations
Define Genetic Drift
The random changes in allele frequencies in a population due to chance events. In a small population it is possible some alleles may be lost or fixed.
Define Bottleneck Effect
Occurs when there is a dramatic or sudden reduction in population size. Gene pool is limited to alleles possessed by surviving individuals and genetic diversity is lost even when population returns to original numbers.
Define Founder Effect
Occurs when a small number of individuals leaves the original population and starts a new population elsewhere. Founder population have different allele frequency to original population. No gene flow and selection pressures may cause populations to diverge.
When did New Zealand split from pangea?
Around 65 million years ago
What implication did New Zealand’s lack of mammals after splitting from pangea have for the fauna?
Some birds evolved to be ground-dwelling and flightless. In others, gigantism or dwarfism evolved.
How did other species reach New Zealand?
Floating vegetation or being caught in strong winds.
When did the Oligocene Drowning occur?
Approximately 25 million years ago
What resulted from the Oligocene Drowning?
A large biotic bottleneck as land area was reduced, causing huge death of organisms. This causes greatly reduced genetic diversity. After the water levels decreased, the species diversified over time due to mutations.
When did the Southern Alps form?
Around 5 million years ago
What was the impact of the formation of the Alps? What was the SI like before?
Prior to the Alps, the SI was flat and had a stable, calm environment. After the Alps rose, the west became rainy and wet while the east became dry. This meant that individuals became genetically isolated in different environmental conditions, although some insects and birds are able to cross the ecological borders. This caused genetic drift and potentially speciation.
What happens during an ice age?
Water level recedes, exposing land bridges and encouraging gene flow between populations. Water based species may be cut off as channels dry out, isolating some populations.
What happens during an interglacial warming?
Water level increases, covering land bridges and isolating some land species. Encourages gene flow between water based species as channels appear.
Evolution
The change in allele frequencies in a gene pool from one generation to the next
Gene Pool
The sum total of all the genes possessed by all the interbreeding individuals in a population
Stabilising natural selection
Favors the average phenotype over either extreme
Directional natural selection
Favours the phenotype of one extreme over the average or other extreme
Disruptive natural selection
favours both extremes over the average phenotype
Fitness
The ability of an organism to survive in its habitat and maximise the number of offspring surviving to reproductive age
Natural selection
The probability of survival and relative reproductive success among the members of a species in the specific environment they are living in
Selection pressures
Environmental factors that favour certain phenotypes/genotypes which allow some individuals in a population to successfully reproduce and therefore increase the chance that certain alleles will be passed on to the offspring
Mutation
A permanent change in the DNA
Population
A group of organisms of the same species living together
Species
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Divergent evolution
Where ancestral stock is divided into 2 or more lines with dissimilar characteristics
Convergent evolution
Groups initially exhibiting different characteristics become increasingly similar (because they are exposed to the same selection pressures)
Co-evolution
Evolution of species in tandem because of their interdependence- eg. flowers and honey-eaters
Adaptive radiation
Evolution of a number of new species from an ancestor species because new niches have become available
Homologous structures
Different functions but the same evolutionary origin eg. wing of a bat and leg of a dog (ie. exposed to different selection pressures)
Analogous structures
Different evolutionary origins but the same function (eg. the wing of a bat and the wing of an insect) ie. exposed to the same selection pressures (occurs due to convergent evolution)
Speciation
Formation of a new species
Allopatric speciation
Formation of 2 new species from a single species due to geographic isolation of two populations
Allopatric species
2 closely related species that are geographically isolated from each other
Sympatric speciation
Formation of 2 new species from a single species when the two populations are NOT separated by a geographic barrier
Sympatric species
2 closely related species that are not geographically isolated from each other
Reproductive isolating mechanism
Any structure or function that is genetically determined and prevents interbreeding between organisms
Pre-reproductive isolating mechanism
Factors that prevent mating
Post-reproductive isolating mechanism
Factors that prevent the production of offspring by parents, F1 or F2 generation if mating occurs