Patterns of Evolution

Question 1

Ecological Niche

Answer 1

The role an organism plays in a community

Question 2

Adaptive Radiation

Answer 2

When a single species evolves into a number of distinct but closely related species each filling a specific ecological niche –> happens relatively quickly and occurs because new resources become available (ex. Darwin’s finches that evolved from one species, becoming specialized to exploit different food sources)

Question 3

Divergent Evolution

Answer 3

The large scale evolution of a group into many different forms –> minimizes competition as new species emerge to fill new ecological niche (ex. deer mice, flying squirrels, and porcupine are closely related rodents that have undergone significant divergent evolution)

Question 4

Convergent Evolution

Answer 4

When two different species evolve to occupy the same ecological niche (ex. sharks and dolphins are very distantly related evolution-wise but have similar characteristics)

Question 5

Coevolution

Answer 5

One species evolves in response to the evolution of another species –> often called the “evolutionary arms race” (ex. symbiotic relationship between hawk moth and orchid - long antenna helps to pollinate long orchid)