NATURAL SELECTION + EVOLUTION Flashcards
What is sexual dimorphism? (1)
when the males and females of a certain species look different.
what is meant by temporal isolation? (1)
changes in reproductive cycles.
what is meant by behavioural isolation? (1)
are subject to a sexual selection, a gender has a specific mating ritual.
what is meant by gametic isolation? (1)
female gametes fail to attract a male gamete or male gamete cannot penetrate the female gamete.
what is meant by mechanical isolation? (1)
there is a physical barrier to fertilisation that results from a mutation.
what is meant by ecological (habitat) isolation? (1)
live in a single habitat but develop characteristics that enable them to survive in different niches.
what are some causes of allopatric speciation? (2)
-geographical isolation - are separated by a physical barrier such as a river, stream or shifting land.
what is sympatric speciation? (1)
a species isolated from each other without a physical barrier.
when does speciation occur? (1)
when gene flow has effectively stopped between populations where it previously existed. this requires to populations to become reproductively isolated.
what are some causes of sympatric isolation? (5)
-ecological (habitat) isolation
-mechanical isolation
-gametic isolation
-behavioural isolation
-temporal isolation
what is allopatric isolation? (1)
a species geographically isolated from each other by a physical barrier.
what are the types of speciation? (2)
-allopatric speciation
-sympatric speciation
what did Darwin use to prove his theory on natural selection? (4)
-living species
-comparative anatomy
-fossils
-artificial selection
what evidence did Darwin accumulate to prove his third observation? (1)
the favourable characteristics are expressed in the phenotypes of their offspring (better survive and reproduce)
what evidence did Darwin accumulate to prove his first observation? (2)
the over population of offspring in the wild leads to competition for resources. in a stable populations, breeding pairs give rise to a single breeding pair of offspring
what is a ectotherms? (1)
animals that are unable to regulate their body temperature effectively by internal means and rely on absorbing heat from their surroundings.
what is speciation? (1)
the formation of a new species.
what is ecology? (1)
the study of living things within their environment.
what evidence did Darwin accumulate to prove his second observation? (1)
shows variation in their characteristics, when genetic variation occurs in their development.
what is a endotherms? (1)
an animal who’s body heat comes from the metabolic reactions of many body organs (depends on the volume of the body)
what is a ecosystem? (1)
a community of organisms and their surroundings - the environment in which they live.
what is meant by intraspecific variation? (1)
means variation within a species (such as eye colour)
what is meant by interspecific variation? (1)
variation between species.
what is chemosynthesis? (1)
a method used by some micro-organisms to release energy from inorganic molecules (ammonia or metal sulphides)
what are some environmental pressures? (4)
-availability of suitable food
-diseases
-predators
-physical, biological and physiological determinants
what is the molecular evidence for evolution? (6)
-all have DNA or RNA a genetic material
-genetic code is universal
-ATP is the universal molecule for energy storage
-same 20 amino acids are used
-all have phospholipid membranes
-physiological processes follow the same metabolic pathway
describe what is meant by natural selection? (1)
used to describe the process of environmental factors determining which individuals will survive.
what is meant by selection pressure? (1)
individuals who survive have been selected from the entire population.
what is a ecological niche? (1)
the functional position of an organism in its environment.
what does a niche comprise of? (3)
-the habitat
-activity pattern
-resources obtained from habitat
what was Darwin’s third observation for natural selection? (1)
organisms have the ability to produce large numbers of offspring.
what was Darwin’s fourth observation for natural selection? (1)
populations in nature tend to remain fairly stable in size - there must be a ‘fight’ for survival, survival of the fittest.
what was Darwin’s second observation for natural selection? (1)
no two individuals are identical - therefore variation is occurring
what are physiological adaptions? (1)
any adaption which ensure the correct functioning of cellular actions and processes