Evolution

Question 1

What is an abiotic factor? Give examples.

Answer 1

Abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical components of the ecosystem.

• sunlight
• water
• temperature
• salinity
• pH
• soil
• chemical composition

Question 2

What is a biotic factor? Give examples.

Answer 2

A biotic factor is a living component of an ecosystem.

• autotroph (producer)
• heterotroph (consumer)
• decomposers
• herbivore/predator
• pathogens
• parasites
• competing species

Question 3

What are autotrophs?

Answer 3

Autotrophs are “self feeders”. Use abiotic elements to create own food. eg. photosynthesis

• plants
• algae

Question 4

What are heterotrophs?

Answer 4

Heterotrophs are “other feeding”. Cannot create own food, so consume others; “consumers”.

• mammals -> predators and herbivores
• fungi

Question 5

What is adaptation? What are the 3 types?

Answer 5

Adaptation is an inherited characteristic that enhances the survival/reproduction in a specific environment. Can be:

1. structural
2. behavioral
3. physiological

Question 6

What is a Structural Adaptation? Give example.

Answer 6

Is a physical characteristic of an organism.

eg. shell on a turtle -> helps him to not be eaten

Question 7

What is a Behavioral adaptation? Give example.

Answer 7

Is a learned trait used to help an organism survive.

eg. Kangaroos dig holes in the dirt, to reach cooler soil, and help lower their temperature, also are nocturnal.

Question 8

What is a Physiological adaptation? Give example.

Answer 8

Is an adaptation that changes how an organism works.

eg. Humans sweat, which the cools the skin, and lower our temperature.

Question 9

What is evolution?

Answer 9

evolution is the process of change that has changed life on earth.
Change in genetic composition or variation of a population over time.

Question 10

What is evolution unity?

Answer 10

Fundamental things that are all the same. ie. genetic code, cell structure, basic metabolic function.
-“similarities” -> decent from common ancestor

Question 11

What is evolution diversity?

Answer 11

Above the cellular level, different organisms have adapted to various ways of life.
-“differences” -> natural selection due to different environmental factors (modified ancestral equipment)

Question 12

Who is Darwin?

Answer 12

Credited with “natural selection’

Question 13

What are 2 inferences from natural selection?

Answer 13

1. those who have higher probability of surviving, will have more offspring
2. unequal ability for all to survive, means accumulation of favorable traits

Question 14

3 main points of Natural Selection

Answer 14

1. genetic variation (different then ones before)
2. must be inheritable (not freak mutation that can’t be passed on)
3. must have positive impact on reproductive success in specific environment

Question 15

Give example of Natural selection.

Answer 15

Bird has wider beak, can more easily access food source, therefore survives to reproduces, has babies with wider beaks.

Question 16

Sequence of Major life events on Earth

Answer 16

1. origin of solar sysetm
2. prokaryotes
3. atmospheric oxygen
4. single celled eukaryotes
5. multicell eukaryotes
6. animals
7. colonization of land
8. humans

Question 17

What is a Biological species?

Answer 17

A population whose members have the potential to breed, and produce fertile offspring, but cannot breed and have fertile offspring with members of a another species.

Question 18

what are 3 main sources of genetic variation?

Answer 18

1. existing variation
2. meiosis/fertilization -> new genetic combinations from genetic contributions of both parents
3. mutation

Question 19

what determines which traits will be selected for or against in a population?

Answer 19

the local environment

Question 20

adaptations are a result of:

does natural selection create adaptations?

Answer 20

-“editing” by natural selection.
-Natural selection does not create adaptations; It increases the frequency of traits already present in
the population