Evolution Flashcards
evolution
a change in genotype frequencies in a population over time
natural selection
the process by which a selective force causes some individuals in a population to survive and reproduce to a greater degree than others, which can lead to evolutionary change
fitness
the level of ability to survive and reproduce
adaption
any trait that makes the organism more likely to survive and repreoduce
fecundity
reproductive success measured by counting the number of surviving offspring
divergent evolution
when 2 or more species evolve from a common ancestor
convergent evolution
similar conditions can cause the evolution of similar traits
homologous structures
structures that have similar parts due to shared common ancestry, which may or may not have similar functions
vestigial structures
structures that have no apparent function and are likely from an ancestor that did have a function for it
microevolution
changes within a species
biological species concept
group of populations whose members have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring
organisms that can breed and produce offspring
morphological species concept
defines species by physical traits, doesn’t require mating
ecological species concept
defines species by their role within the environment
phylogenetic species concept
any group of organisms that have shared common ancestry, also uses physical traits
allopatric speciation
when two species are physically separated
sympatric speciation
When populations live in the same habitat but gene flow has been eliminated through reproductive isolation