Unit 2 Flashcards
(69 cards)
Taxonomy
Taxonomy involves the identification and naming of organisms and their classification into groups based on shared characteristics.
Phylogenetics
Phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms.
Model organisms
Those that are easily studied or have been well studied.
Latency
The time between the stimulus occurring and the response behaviour.
Frequency
The number of times a behaviour occurs within the observation period.
Duration
The length of time each behaviour occurs during the observation period.
Evolution
The change over time in the proportion of individuals in a population differing in one or more inherited traits.
Anthropomorphism
The attribution of human traits, emotions or intentions to non-human entities.
Genetic drift
Occurs when chance events cause unpredictable fluctuations in allele frequency from one generation to the next.
Hardy-Weinberg principle
In the absence or presence of evolutionary influences, allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant over generations.
Fitness
Fitness is an indication of an individuals ability to be successful at surviving and reproducing.
Co-evolution
The process by which 2 or more species evolve in response to selection pressures imposed by each other.
Red Queen Hypothesis
In a co-evolutionary relationship, a change in the traits of one species can act as a selection pressure on the other species.
Parthenogenesis
Reproduction from a female gamete without fertilisation
More common in a cool climate with a low parasite density which is disadvantageous to parasites.
Fertilisation
The combining of 2 haploid nuclei of 2 gametes which forms a diploid nucleus.
Meiosis
The division of the nucleus, that results in the formation of haploid gametes from a diploid gametocyte.
Hermaphrodites
Species that have functioning male and female reproductive organs in each individual.
Sexual dimorphism
Physical differences between males and females of the same species.
Female choice
Involves females assessing honest signals of the fitness of males.
Ecological niche
The multi-dimensional summary of tolerances and requirements of a species.
Fundamental niche
The niche a species occupies in the absence of inter specific competition.
Realised niche
The niche a species occupies in response to interspecific competition.
Competitive exclusion
Where the niches of 2 species are so similar that one declines to local extinction.
Resource Partitioning
Where the realised niches of 2 species are sufficiently different, so potential competitors can co-exist.
