Chapter 17 Vocab (Evolution)

Question 1

Adaptation

Answer 1

heritable characteristic that increases an organisms ability to survive and reproduce in an environment

Question 2

Adoptive Radiation

Answer 2

process by which a species or small group of species evolves into several different forms that live in different ways

Question 3

Charles Darwin

Answer 3

discovered natural selection and theory of evolution

Question 4

*Coevolution

Answer 4

process by which 2 species evolve in response to changes in each other over time

Question 5

*Competition

Answer 5

direct or indirect interactions of organisms sharing the same resource

Question 6

*Convergent Evolution

Answer 6

process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments

Question 7

*Divergent Evolution

Answer 7

process by which 2 groups of the same species evolve different traits when adapting to different environments

Question 8

Evolution

Answer 8

the process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms; changes over time

Question 9

Fitness

Answer 9

how well an organism can survive and reproduce within its environment

Question 10

*The HMS Beagle

Answer 10

ship taken by Charles Darwin on his first voyage around the world

Question 11

*Homologous Structures

Answer 11

structures that are similar in different species of common ancestry

Question 12

*Natural Selection

Answer 12

survival of the fittest; process by which organisms most suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully

Question 13

*“On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin

Answer 13

book by Darwin introducing the theory of evolution and natural selsction

Question 14

*Variation

Answer 14

any differences between the individuals in a species or groups of organisms of any species

Question 15

*Vestigal Organs

Answer 15

anatomical structures inherited from ancestors that have no apparent function