Evolution and Natural Selection Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What causes extinction of a species according to the content?

  • Increase in population size
  • Rapid climate changes exceeding adaptation rates (correct)
  • Predation from other species
  • Slow habitat changes

What is natural selection?

  • The survival and reproduction of the best-adapted organisms (correct)
  • The random mating of organisms
  • The alteration of DNA sequences
  • The movement of genes between populations

What is a mutation?

  • A change in the DNA sequence of a gene (correct)
  • A type of natural selection process
  • The frequency change of a gene due to mating
  • The movement of species between habitats

How does genetic drift affect a population?

<p>It randomly changes gene frequencies over time (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which species evolve over time?

<p>Natural selection (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes gene flow?

<p>Movement of genetic variation between populations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the timeline of evolution?

<p>Evolution occurs over thousands to millions of years. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do climate changes affect evolution?

<p>They drive organisms to adapt over long periods. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of rapid global warming on species like polar bears?

<p>Loss of habitat due to sea ice melting (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these types of mutations can occur?

<p>Beneficial, neutral, or harmful mutations (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do heritable characteristics play in evolution?

<p>They determine which individuals reproduce. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what climate do trees with medium roots (M) thrive according to the example provided?

<p>Intermediate precipitation climate (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does adaptation play in natural selection?

<p>It enables the survival of well-adapted organisms (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What could lead to an increase in certain gene variants in a population?

<p>Better adaptation to the environment (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the process of evolution by natural selection primarily explain?

<p>The gradual changes in species due to environmental pressures. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about species diversity in biomes is true?

<p>Species diversity is dependent on the biome's conditions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of natural selection favors the norm while selecting against extremes?

<p>Stabilizing selection (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which adaptation allows an individual to survive by affecting its physical features over time?

<p>Structural adaptation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of natural selection targets the extremes while favoring intermediate forms?

<p>Stabilizing selection (C), Disruptive selection (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes the total number of genes and traits among individuals of a population?

<p>Genetic diversity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a behavioral adaptation that can occur rapidly?

<p>Migration (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following populations is more likely to adapt effectively to environmental changes?

<p>A population with high genetic diversity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these adaptations is primarily learned rather than instinctive?

<p>Mating dances/calls (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many identified species are estimated to exist on Earth, alongside the potentially undiscovered species?

<p>1.8 million identified and millions undiscovered (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Equator

An imaginary line that circles the Earth halfway between the North and South Poles.

Biome

A large geographical area with similar climate, plants, and animals.

Species

A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Evolution

The process by which organisms change over time, often due to natural selection.

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Natural Selection

The process where better-adapted organisms are more likely to survive and reproduce.

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Heritable Characteristics

Traits that can be passed from parents to offspring.

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Adaptations

Traits that improve an organism's ability to survive in its environment.

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Evolutionary Timescale

Evolution takes place over thousands or millions of years.

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Climate Change

Natural changes in weather patterns over long periods of time.

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Species Extinction

Species extinction happens when climate change occurs faster than a species can adapt to the new conditions.

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Climate Change & Extinction

Human activities create rapid climate changes that are too fast for organisms to adapt, causing extinction.

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Polar Bear Extinction Threat

Rapid global warming leading to Arctic sea ice loss poses a serious threat to polar bear populations.

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Mutation

A change or alteration in a gene's DNA sequence, potentially leading to different characteristics.

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Gene Flow

The movement of genetic variation across different populations of a species.

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Genetic Drift

Random changes or variation in the frequency of genes within a species' population over time.

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Natural Selection

A process where organisms well-suited to their environment survive, reproduce more, and pass on those advantageous traits.

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Stabilizing Selection

Natural selection that favors average traits and selects against extreme traits.

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Directional Selection

Natural selection consistently favoring one extreme trait over time.

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Disruptive Selection

Natural selection that favors both extreme traits, selecting against intermediate forms.

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Adaptation

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

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Physical Adaptation

A physical characteristic that helps an organism survive (e.g., webbed feet).

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Behavioral Adaptation

A behavior that helps an organism survive and reproduce (e.g., migration).

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Genetic Diversity

The variety of genes and traits within a population.

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Biomes Genetic Diversity

Populations within a biome have shared adaptations for that specific environment.

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Study Notes

Biomes and Biodiversity

  • Biomes are large communities defined by climate, including temperature and precipitation patterns. These patterns also shape the organisms and vegetation adapted to live in those areas.
  • Biomes are a large geographic area where ecosystems are similar.
  • Objectives for the lecture include identifying abiotic and biotic components, understanding factors that affect life within a biome, recognizing biodiversity within biomes and their resilience to change, and identifying threats to Earth's biomes.

Abiotic Factors

  • Abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical components of the environment, crucial for life.
  • Inorganic compounds, lacking carbon-hydrogen bonds, are key abiotic components.
  • Abiotic factors impact organism survival, growth, reproduction, and influence the types and numbers of species that thrive in a biome.
  • Examples include air (oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen), water, sunlight, soil minerals, and humidity.

Biotic Factors

  • Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem, composed of carbon-hydrogen compounds.
  • Biotic factors have both direct and indirect impacts on a biome, affecting interactions within the ecosystem (e.g., predation, food chains, waste cycles, disease).
  • Examples include viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants, animals, insects, and parasites.
  • Organic molecules like DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates are also considered biotic components.

Hierarchy of Life on Earth

  • Organism: A single living individual.
  • Population: Organisms of the same species that can breed and produce offspring.
  • Community: Many different species interacting.
  • Ecosystem: A community of organisms interacting with their abiotic components.
  • Biome: Extensive ecosystems that occupy large geographic regions.

What is a Biome?

  • Biomes are defined by global climate patterns.
  • Long-term temperature and precipitation patterns define the types of organisms found in each biome.

What is Climate?

  • Climate is long-term patterns of weather, occurring over decades or centuries.
  • Temperature and precipitation are the main controlling factors.

Major Factors Controlling Climate

  • Temperature - Location determines if a biome is hot, warm, or cold.
  • Precipitation - Amount of water in an area.
  • Tilt of Earth on its axis - Causes seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter).
  • Sun - Primary energy source for Earth's climate.
  • Latitude - Distance from the equator affects temperature.
  • Elevation - Higher altitudes are typically colder.
  • Mountain ranges/landforms - Impact how precipitation, moisture, temperature and other elements are affected.
  • Ocean currents - Influence temperatures along coastlines.
  • Winds - Direct moving elements that can influence how weather and temperature is disbursed.
  • Vegetation - Plants absorb moisture from the air affecting the climate.
  • Human activity - Deforestation, burning fossil fuels and urbanization can have an influence.

Climograph

  • A climograph is a graph that displays monthly average temperature and precipitation data for a location.
  • Climographs are an easy way to visualize the location's climate.

Earth's 4 Seasons

  • Earth's tilt on its axis causes seasons as the sun's direct rays shift throughout the year.
  • March/September = equal sunlight on both hemispheres.
  • June = Direct sunlight on Northern Hemisphere
  • December = Direct sunlight on Southern Hemisphere

Biome Types

  • A global map displays a variety of biomes (ice sheet and polar desert, tundra, taiga, temperate broadleaf forest, etc.)
  • Biomes are categorized based on their dominant vegetation types.

Earth's Biomes

  • The exact number of biomes is debatable, dependent on classification methods used.
  • Differences in climate create distinct biome characteristics.
  • Transition zones (ecotones) exist between biomes, where characteristics are shared.
  • Climate change causes biome shifts

Three Broad Categories of Biomes

  • Marine
  • Freshwater
  • Terrestrial

Climate

  • Temperature and precipitation define Earth's biomes.
  • Temperature variations occur with latitude and altitude.
  • Temperature in general decreases with increased altitude.

Whittaker's Biome-Types

  • Whittaker's biome-types are categorized by climate and vegetation patterns.
  • Biomes such as tropical rainforests are hot and wet, while tundras are cold and dry.

Vegetation in Biomes

  • Vegetation type is based on climate, precipitation, latitude, altitude, animal species, etc.
  • Each biome requires understanding species interactions and nutrient needs within.
  • Organisms are adapted to live within temperatures of a particular range.

Forces of Evolution

  • Mutation: DNA sequence changes.
  • Gene Flow: Movement of genetic variation between populations.
  • Genetic Drift: Change in gene frequency due to random mating.
  • Natural Selection: Favors better-adapted organisms, leading to greater reproduction amongst those with traits suited to the prevailing conditions.

Evolution by Natural Selection

  • Natural selection is a slow process occurring over thousands to millions of years.
  • Climate change drives the evolution of a species.
  • Extinction occurs when climate changes to a degree impossible for organisms to adapt to.

Natural Selection Types

  • Stabilizing selection: Favors the norm, selects against extremes.
  • Directional selection: Continuously favors an extreme form.
  • Disruptive selection: Favors two extremes, selects against the intermediate form.

Adaptation

  • Adaptation = characteristic allowing an organism to survive and reproduce in a specific biome.
  • Populations within a biome often have shared adaptations.
  • Adaptations may involve physical changes or behavior changes.

Physical Adaptations

  • These adapt to physical features or traits such as shape, color, coverings, movement, and size.
  • Adaptations depend on the changing environment in the biome.
  • Examples: webbed feet, strong beaks, camouflage, and scales.

Behavioral Adaptations

  • Adapt to activities performed for survival and reproduction, dependent on the environment in the biome.
  • Adapting to activities such as defense mechanisms, migration, hibernation, and mating dances/calls.
  • Instincts or learned behavior can help drive adaptation.

Genetic Diversity

  • Genetic diversity is important for long-term adaptation and growth of populations.
  • Greater diversity allows for greater resilience to future changes.

Biodiversity, Hotspots and ecosystem services

  • Biodiversity: The variety of life on Earth.
  • Biodiversity hotspot: Areas with high biodiversity but also high endangerment of species.
  • Ecosystem services: Essential natural processes that support human life.
  • Managed ecosystems: Include farms, croplands, rangelands, aquaculture, etc., which also require maintenance of diversity.
  • Human activities affect both natural ecosystems and their service provisions.
  • Human health: Many medicines have origins in natural substances.
  • Agriculture: Wild species gene adaptation and diversity contributes to future domestic species' food supply.

Major Threats to Biodiversity

  • Habitat loss.
  • Overharvesting of natural resources.
  • Pollution.
  • Invasive species.
  • Climate change.
  • Human population growth.
  • Other human activities such as urbanization, logging, and agriculture.

21st Century Ecological Sensitivity

  • Degree to which ecosystems can adapt to future climate change.
  • Human impact and future climate change can have dramatic impacts.

Extinction Rates

  • Current extinction rates are significantly higher than the background rate.
  • Human actions contribute to higher rates of extinction.

How can we protect and preserve biodiversity?

  • Pass legislation and treaties.
  • Restore damaged environments.
  • Set aside protected areas.
  • Regulate human activity in these areas.
  • Protect individual species through captive breeding programs.

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