All Flashcards
What is the role of environmental pressures in adaptation?
Environmental pressures drive adaptation by favoring traits that increase survival and reproduction in a specific environment.
Why is genetic diversity important for a population's survival?
Populations with diverse genes are more resilient to disasters and environmental changes, increasing their chances of survival.
Explain the relationship between evolution and adaptation.
Adaptation is the process by which organisms evolve to better suit their environment. Evolution is the broader phenomenon encompassing these changes over time.
How does climate change act as an environmental pressure?
Climate change alters habitats, food availability, and other resources, forcing species to adapt or face decline.
Describe how competition can drive adaptation.
Competition for resources (food, mates, space) favors individuals with traits that give them a competitive edge, leading to adaptation.
What is the role of natural selection in adaptation?
Natural selection favors individuals with advantageous traits, allowing them to survive and reproduce more successfully, passing those traits to future generations.
How do ecosystems drive evolution?
Ecosystems are always shifting, to survive, populations must keep up with these changes. Evolution allows more individuals to acquire optimal genes through reproduction.
What are the consequences of not adapting?
If a population doesn’t evolve, it faces higher death rates and the risk of extinction.
How do populations diverge?
When environments change, populations can diverge. One group might adapt one way, while another adapts differently.
How does reproductive isolation lead to speciation?
Reproductive isolation prevents gene flow between populations, allowing them to evolve independently and potentially become distinct species.
Define adaptation.
Process where species change over time to better fit their environment through genetic, behavioral, or physiological changes.
Define evolution.
The change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
Define allopatric speciation.
Speciation that occurs when a physical barrier prevents two populations from interbreeding.
Define sympatric speciation.
Speciation that occurs when populations in the same area stop reproducing due to different breeding times, seasons, or incompatibilities.
Define reproductive isolation.
When two populations can no longer interbreed, leading to the formation of separate species.
Define genetic diversity.
The variety of genes within a population or species.
What is 'survival of the fittest'?
Having the genes that best match the environment, increasing the likelihood of thriving and passing those genes on.
What is the role of environmental pressures in adaptation?
Environmental pressures like climate change, competition, and predators drive adaptation by favoring certain traits.
Why is genetic diversity important for a population's survival?
Populations with diverse genes are more resilient to disasters and environmental changes.
How do ecosystems drive evolution?
Environments are always shifting, and to survive, populations must keep up with these changes through evolution.
What happens if a population doesn't adapt to environmental changes?
It faces higher death rates and the risk of extinction.
What are the three types of adaptations?
Genetic, behavioral, and physiological.