Evolution Test Flashcards
On the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin observed…
Somewhat similar species with triats that suited their particular enviornment
The species of tortoises that Darwin found on the Galapagos Islands displayed different structural adaptations. One of the adaptations that Darwin noted was the…
Variation in length of tortoises’ necks and shell shape
Darwin began to formulate his concept of evolution by natural selection after…
Observations of many species and their geographical locations
When Darwin returned from the voyage of the Beagle, he…
Wrote about his ideas, but waited many years to publish them
When lions prey on a herd of antelope, some antelope are killed and some escape. Which part of Darwin’s concept of natural selection might be used to describe this situation?
Survival of the fittest
According to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, the individuals that tend to survive are those that have…
Variations and adaptations best suited to the environment
Darwin viewed the fossil record as…
A record of evolution
Darwin’s theory of evolution is based on the idea(s) of…
Natural variation and natural selection
Which concept is included in the modern theory of evolution?
Descent with modification, natural selection, and competition among the members of a population
When a farmer breeds only his/her best livestock, the process involved is…
Artifical selection
Darwin called the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its enviornment…
Fitness
Which Vocab Word: any difference between individuals of the same species
Variation
Which Vocab Word: a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce
Adaptation
Which Vocab Word: structures that have different mature forms and functions in different organisms but develop from the same embryonic tissues
Homologous structures
Which Vocab Word: the process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce than other members of the same species; survival of the fittest
Natural selection
Which Vocab Word: the gradual change in a species over time
Evolution
Which Vocab Word: a well-trained concept that explains a wide range of observations
Scientific theory
Which Vocab Word: the intentional breeding of plants or animals
Artifical selection
Which Vocab Word: occurs when species have evolved alongside each other in response to the changes in the other organism
Co-evolution
Which Vocab Word: he wrote about the theory of evolution in his book On the Origin of Species
Charles Darwin
Which Vocab Word: a 375 million year old transitional fossil
Tiktaalik
Which Vocab Word: ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment
Fitness
Which Vocab Word: the formation of a new species
Speciation
Which Vocab Word: the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment
Ecology
Describe three different observations that Darwin made about animals in South America and on the Galapagos Islands.
-tortoises had different types of shells on each island
-finches had different beak sizes on each island
-marine iguanas matched the color of the rocks
What are four types of evidence that support the theory of evolution?
-DNA
-fossil records
-homologous structures
-similarities in embryology
Give two examples of adaptations
Physiological (physical)
Behavioral (behavior)
Define geographic, temporal, and behavioral isolation
-geographic: two populations separated by geographic barriers
-temporal: two species reproduce at different times
-behavioral: two populations are capable of interbreeding, but don’t
List five conditions that will cause evolution to occur
-mutation
-natural selection
-gene flow
-genetic drift
-nonrandom mating
Define genetic drift and allele frequency
-genetic drift: random change in allele frequency that occurs in small populations
-allele frequency: the percentage of each type of allele in a population
What is population bottleneck? Why is it detrimental for a population to have low genetic diversity?
-an event where a population’s size is greatly reduced
-detrimental because it takes away their ability to adapt
Why was the finding of Tiktaalik a significant discovery in the field of evolutionary biology?
means all tetrapods descend from one species
What was Darwin’s greatest contribution to science, and how did he develop it?
-development to theory of evolution
-went on a voyage, gained observations
What did Peter and Rosemary Grant research on the Galapagos Islands?
galapagos finches
Within a period of only 20 years, how many times did the Grants observe natural selection happen with the beak sizes of the finches?
observed natural selection
What environmental factor caused the beak sizes of the finches to become larger in the population during the Grants’ research project?
large drought because smaller seeds became scarce
What environmental factor caused the beak sizes of the finches to become smaller in the population during the Grants’ research project?
strong storm because larger seeds became scarce
How many different species of finches live on the Galapagos Islands?
13 species
How did different species of finches form on the islands?
One finch populates one island, a descendant reaches a different islands, faces new conditions and adapts, and then they are two different species
A prairie dog, hawk, and a badger all are members of the same…
community
What are three examples of limiting factors for population?
space, food, and water
A freshwater lake has a muddy bottom, which is home to different types of algae and other organisms. Many species of fish feed on the algae. What are the abiotic factors in this ecosystems?
-temperatur of water
-pH of water
-clarity of water
In which type of interaction do both species benefit?
mutualism
A flea living on a cat’s blood is an example of…
parasitism
What are two methods of determining a population size?
-quadrat sampling
-mark and recapture
Let’s say you had to determine the population size of pine trees in a forest. What type of method would you use? Why?
sampling because it is stationary
What is carrying capacity? Why can’t a population go above the carrying capacity?
-largest population that an area can support
-limited space and resources
Why is it difficult to determine a carrying capacity for the human population?
depends on how we live (if we live sustainably)
On a population graph, what is on the x-axis?
time
On a population graph, what is the dotted line at the top of the population line?
carrying capacity
What are the two types of growth curves for populations? How are they different?
-exponential growth: continues to grow
-logistic growth: grows and stops when limited resources are depleted
What is the name of the island that has moose and wolf populations for ecologists to study?
isle royal
What type of symbiosis is this: Egrets are beautiful white birds that roost on the back of cows. The cows are not affected.
commensalism
What type of symbiosis is this: A tick lands on a dog. It feeds on the dog’s blood. Large infestations may weaken the dog and make it susceptible to other illnesses.
parasitism
What type of symbiosis is this: Lichens are a combination of an alga and a fungus. The alga produces food for the fungus, the fungus provides protection for the alga and supplies needed nutrients.
mutualism
Which Vocab Word: the struggle between organisms to survive as they attempt to use the same limited resources
competition
Which Vocab Word: a group of organisms that are physically similar and can mate with each other and produce offspring that can also mate and reproduce
species
Which Vocab Word: all the members of one species in a particular area
population
Which Vocab Word: the community of organisms that live in a particular area, along with their nonliving surroundings
ecosystem
Which Vocab Word: all the different populations that live together in an area
community
Which Vocab Word: and interaction in which one organism kills another for food
predation
Which Vocab Word: a relationship between two species and at least one species benefits
symbiosis
