Ecology Vocabulary Flashcards

Ecomorph and Niche

• Ecomorph: Classification of species based on their habitat and ecosystem presence.
• Niche: The role or function of an organism within its environment, encompassing what it contributes and extracts.

Evolution and Phylogeny

• Phylogeny: Study of evolutionary relationships among living organisms.
• Common Ancestor: An early organism from which later species evolved, sharing similar features.

Species and Reproduction

• Species: A group of individuals capable of interbreeding successfully.

Genetic Evidence for Evolution

• DNA Similarity: Closely related species exhibit more similar DNA sequences.

Population Genetics

• Genetic Diversity: The variety of genes within a population, contributing to adaptability.

Adaptation and Natural Selection

• Adaptation: Organisms undergo changes to better fit their environment.
• Natural Selection: Environmental changes lead to the survival and reproduction of individuals best suited to those conditions.

Evolutionary Processes

• Convergent Evolution: Different species independently evolve similar traits due to facing similar environmental pressures.
• Divergent Evolution: Species evolve differently from a common ancestor, leading to new characteristics.

Adaptive Radiation

• Adaptive Radiation: Original traits evolve into distinct subpopulations that adapt to diverse environments, eventually becoming separate species.

Structures and Evolution

• Homologous Structures: Organs or bones that share a common evolutionary origin but may serve different functions.
• Analogous Structures: Similar functions or appearances in unrelated species, lacking a shared ancestry.
• Vestigial Structures: Inherited structures that are reduced or no longer serve their original purpose.

Genetic Drift and Its Effects

• Bottleneck Effect: A sharp reduction in population size resulting in a loss of genetic diversity.
• Genetic Drift: Random changes in gene frequencies within small populations.
• Founder Effect: A small number of individuals establish a new population, leading to reduced genetic variation.

Gene Flow and Population Dynamics

• Gene Flow: The transfer of genetic material into or out of a population, influencing genetic diversity.

Miller-Urey Experiment

• Conducted in the 1950s to demonstrate the abiotic synthesis of biomolecules under early Earth-like conditions; evidence included the production of amino acids.

Endosymbiotic Theory

• Proposes that mitochondria and plastids originated from free-living prokaryotes that incorporated themselves into larger cells.
• Proof of Endosymbiotic Theory: Similarities in membrane structure, presence of circular DNA, and self-reproduction characteristics suggest a prokaryotic origin.

Gene Pool and Reproductive Isolation

• Gene Pool: The complete set of genes found within a population.
• Reproductive Isolation: Occurs when populations are physically separated, evolve independently, and can no longer interbreed.

Population Definition

• Population: A group of organisms of the same species residing in a specified area capable of interbreeding.