The adjustment of an
organism to its environment,
or the process by which it
enhances its fitness for that
environment.
Adaptive Radiation
Special case of divergent evolution. Occurs when one
ancestral species gives rise to many new species
(occupying different niches)
Allopatric and Sympatric
Speciation
Allopatric
New species forming because
they are geographically
isolated from the parent
population.
Sympatric
Closely related species whose
distribution overlaps with the
parent population
Analogous and
Homologous structures
Analogous
Similar structures developed
by species that are not
related but instead faced the
same selection pressures
and share similar
environment. Usually have same
functions
Homologous
Are remnants of ancestor
species, and are present in
related animals - pentadactyl
limb. Does not always serve
same purpose
Types of Evolution
Convergent
Similarity present in
appearence of
organisms that are not
closely related by
share similar habitat
type
Parallel Evolution
Development of a similar
trait in related, but distinct,
species descending from the
same ancestor, but from
different clades.
Divergent
One ancestral species,
over time, giving rise to
several new species each
in their own niche.
Cladogenesis
The
branching off
of a new taxa
Macroevolution
Evolution above the
species - on a greater
scale
Microevolution
Small scale - changes in
allele frequencies that occur
over time within a
population
Natural slelection
One of the basic
mechanisms of evolution,
along with mutation,
migration, and genetic drift
Evolutionary Change
Gradualism
Populations slowly
diverge by
accumulating adaptive
characteristics in
response to different
selective pressures.
Punctuated Equilibrium
Most species in
existence spend time in
stasis and little time is
spent in active evolutionary
change
Isolation and
Speciation
Reproductive isolation
Prevents
interbreeding and
therefore gene
flow between
species. Most
species have
more than one
Temporal
Individuals may be active
during different times of the
day/week/month/season
Gamete Isolation
Gametes may
be
incompatible
Behavioural
Different
courtship
rituals
Mechanical Isolation
Structural differences in
the anatomy of the
reproductive organs
Postzygotic
Sterility
Inviability
Hybrid breakdown
Phylogeny
The history of the evolution of a species
or group, especially in reference to lines
of descent and relationships among
broad groups of organisms
Population
A summation of all the organisms
of the same group or species,
who live in the same geographical
area, and have the capability of
interbreeding
Speciation
The formation
of a new
biological
species
Extinct
Extant
Still in existence
Having no living member or no
longer being in existence