Unit 7, Topic 1: Natural Selection Vocabulary

natural selection

• organisms best suited to their environment pass on their genes to the next generation

• all organisms evolve at the same rate

• environmental changes have no effect on species

• only the strongest survive regardless of adaptation

inherit

• receive from parents

• give to children

• borrow from friends

• acquire through work

niche

• the role that an organism has in its habitat

• a type of ecosystem

• a specific geographical area

• the physical characteristics of an organism

speciation

• the formation of new species

• the extinction of species

• the migration of species

• the adaptation of species

mimicry

• adaptation in which one species physically resembles another species

• a behavior where animals imitate each other's sounds

• a process of natural selection leading to extinction

• a type of camouflage used by predators

habitat

• a type of food that an organism eats

• an environment where an organism is naturally found

• a method of reproduction in animals

• a place where organisms are artificially kept

biogeography

• the study of the distribution of organisms and their interactions with the environment

• the study of climate patterns and their effects on ecosystems

• the analysis of genetic variations within species

• the examination of fossil records to understand past life forms

theory of evolution

• States that species have their origin in common ancestors and that differences result from continuous change within a species

• Suggests that species are created independently and do not share common ancestors

• Claims that species do not change over time

• Proposes that all species are static and unchanging

environment

• a living thing's surroundings

• a type of weather pattern

• a form of energy

• a species of plant

theory

• a scientific claim supported by a great deal of evidence

• a guess based on limited information

• a hypothesis that has not been tested

• a statement that cannot be proven