Biology Unit 7 & 8 Review: Evolution and Taxonomy

The change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

A process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to their offspring.

A group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.

The science of classifying and naming organisms.

A system of classification where groups are contained within larger groups, reflecting evolutionary relationships.

A shared derived character inherited from a common ancestor.

A branching diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among organisms based on shared derived characters.

Information used to determine evolutionary relationships, including morphology, anatomy, molecules, behavior, and life history traits.

Predicting optimal animal behavior by weighing the advantages against the disadvantages; animals make decisions where benefits outweigh costs.

A mound of grass and mud, marked with beaver scent (castoreum).

Provides information about identity, family, and territorial boundaries, helping beavers identify potential intruders.

Ways sound signals weaken or distort; Four main types are attenuation, frequency distortions, temporal distortions and masking.

A decrease in sound intensity/strength over distance, due to spreading or changes in medium.

Changes in the frequency components of a sound signal causing it to be misinterpreted.

Changes to the timing of sounds, causing misinterpretation of the message sent.

Background noises interfering with the ability to hear another sound.

The loss of sound energy as it travels.

Sound energy spreads out over a larger area, reducing intensity.

Sound traveling at different speeds in different temperatures or mediums (air, water).

How sound changes in frequency as it travels through different environments.

Sound energy converted to heat energy during travel.

Higher frequencies lose energy faster than lower frequencies over distance.

Sound reflection and absorption by various elements in the surrounding environment.

Properties of a sound affecting how it travels, like frequency and intensity, affecting loss.

A change in an animal's sound production or perception to cope with background and conspecific noise.

A strategy where animals adjust their sound frequency or timing to avoid overlapping with other sounds.

Changing the pitch of a sound to avoid interference from ambient noise.

Altering the timing or rhythm of a sound to contrast with background noise.

A clear difference in appearance between males and females of the same species.

The idea that females may initially prefer males with certain traits, leading to the gradual evolution of more elaborate traits in males over generations.

A type of natural selection where traits that increase an individual's chances of attracting mates are favored.

The time, energy, and resources invested by a parent in raising their offspring.

A process where a trait becomes more exaggerated over generations because it's attractive to mates, even if it doesn't improve survival.

Colorful feathers can signal a male's good health, quality, or genetic fitness to females.

Long calls can indicate better genetic quality and offspring survivability, making them more attractive to females.

Traits that attract mates can also make individuals more vulnerable to predators or require more energy to maintain.

Traits that increase mating success will be passed on to more offspring, gradually becoming more common in the population.

Traits that indicate a male's health, strong genes, and good resources can be attractive to females.

A trait can become so exaggerated that it harms the organism's survival, but it's still favored because it attracts mates.

Suggests that female preferences for certain male traits can evolve alongside the traits themselves. This phenomenon can result in a positive feedback loop, where the more popular a trait becomes, the more attractive it appears to females.

Costly traits in males, like elaborate plumage or loud calls, can signal their good health and genes because only those with strong genes can survive the costs of these traits.

Sexually selected traits can be directly related to health, like the blood color of a frigatebird indicating parasite resistance, or indirectly related, like the song rate of a male bird reflecting parental care.

A trait that reliably signals an individual's quality or fitness. Such traits are maintained because they are costly to produce and maintain, making it impossible for individuals to fake them.