Evolution and Ecology Review

Front

What are homologous structures?

Back

Structures in different species that share a common ancestry but have different functions. Example: The forelimbs of humans, whales, and bats.

Front

Define ecosystem.

Back

A collection of organisms that make up a community along with all the nonliving aspects of the environment.

Front

What is geographic isolation?

Back

The separation of a group of individuals from the rest of the population, often leading to speciation.

Front

What does extinction mean?

Back

The complete dying out of a species.

Front

Explain natural selection.

Back

The process by which individuals better suited to their environment survive and reproduce, passing their genes to the next generation.

Front

What are vestigial structures?

Back

Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution. Example: The human appendix.

Front

Define adaptation.

Back

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Front

What is the difference between a population and a community?

Back

A population is a group of individuals of the same species, while a community includes all the different species living in a particular area.

Front

What is the role of genetic drift in evolution?

Back

A mechanism of evolution that involves random changes in allele frequencies in a population.

Front

What is adaptive radiation?

Back

The process by which a single ancestor species rapidly diversifies into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments.