Chapter 12, Exam #3 Flashcards
evolution
changes in species over time, and natural selection is the mechanism that allows species to adapt to these changes
teleology
the belief that there is a design and purpose in nature and that species evolve toward higher forms
natural selection
how changes in the environment or genes make certain characteristics of a species more or less useful for survival
ontogeny
developmental history of an individual
nature
inherited from our parents
nurture
our encounters with the environment
selective breeding
we identify a trait in an animal and we breed pairs of animals with those traits in common
instinctive drift
teaching a behavior to an animal and thinking that they have the behavior down but then an instinct inside them makes them resistant to learning the new behavior
imprinting
the tenndency of some animals, particularly birds, to follow the first moving object they see after birth
preparedness
idea that organisms are genetically disposed to learn some things and not others
protodog
the species that the wolf evolved into and closely resembles dogs today
flight distance
when dogs percieve something as fearful its when they start to run and the distance they do so. the shorter the flight distance the more likely you are to survive
how do teleology and natural selection differ as explanations of evolutionary change?
teleology believes there is a purpose in nature in which species evolve to a higher form, where natural selection believes species survive environmental changes due to genes that are more successful
how are black moths and dark skinned humans explained by natural selection
the moths are darker colors survived because they could blend in better with trees. the darker skin is essential for survival when living close to the equator
how is natural selection differnt from learning?
natural selection describes how whole species adapt and change. the learning process is also about change, but changes in behavior, though pattern and emotional reactions. learning is at an individual level rather than at the species level