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Questions and Answers
Which evolutionary process is most directly associated with the development of noticeable physical differences between males and females of a species?
Which evolutionary process is most directly associated with the development of noticeable physical differences between males and females of a species?
A population of beetles is subjected to a natural disaster, significantly reducing their numbers and genetic diversity. This event best exemplifies which phenomenon?
A population of beetles is subjected to a natural disaster, significantly reducing their numbers and genetic diversity. This event best exemplifies which phenomenon?
Two species of frogs live in the same geographic area but have different mating calls. What type of reproductive isolation is this an example of?
Two species of frogs live in the same geographic area but have different mating calls. What type of reproductive isolation is this an example of?
Which evolutionary pattern is characterized by a period of rapid diversification of species from a common ancestor, often filling different ecological niches?
Which evolutionary pattern is characterized by a period of rapid diversification of species from a common ancestor, often filling different ecological niches?
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In a large, stable population, which principle states that allele and genotype frequencies remain constant from generation to generation?
In a large, stable population, which principle states that allele and genotype frequencies remain constant from generation to generation?
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Study Notes
Types of Selection
- Artificial Selection: Used in dog breeding to select for desired traits.
- Natural Selection: Observed in Darwin's finches, where advantageous traits are naturally selected.
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Sexual Selection: Leads to sexual dimorphism (differences) in males and females of a species.
- Types of Selection: Stabilizing, disruptive, and directional selection.
Mechanisms of Evolution
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Genetic Drift: Evolutionary change caused by random chance.
- Examples of Genetic Drift: Founder effect (small group establishes new population), bottleneck effect (population drastically reduced by event).
- Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium: Describes a stable population where allele frequencies remain constant (only relevant in large populations).
Speciation
- Speciation: The formation of new species.
- Prezygotic Barriers: Prevent mating or fertilization between species, including different courtship rituals, temporal isolation, ecological isolation, and mechanical isolation.
- Postzygotic Barriers: Occur after the formation of a zygote, resulting in reduced viability or fertility of hybrid offspring, like zygote mortality, hybrid inviability, and hybrid infertility.
Modes of Speciation
- Allopatric Speciation: Geographic isolation leads to speciation. -Sympatric Speciation: Speciation occurs within the same geographic area.
- Peripatric Speciation: A small subgroup of a population moves to a new habitat and evolves into a new species.
- Parapatric Speciation: Speciation occurs along an environmental gradient.
- Adaptive Radiation: Rapid diversification of a single lineage into many different species, often occupying different ecological niches.
Evolutionary Patterns
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Divergent Evolution: Species evolve from a common ancestor and develop different traits.
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Convergent Evolution: Unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.
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Coevolution: The evolution of two or more species in response to each other.
Evolutionary History
- Cambrian Explosion: Rapid diversification of life forms.
- Mass Extinctions: Significant loss of biodiversity.
- Gradualism: Evolutionary change through gradual accumulation of small changes.
- Punctuated Equilibrium: Evolutionary change occurs in short bursts followed by long periods of stability.
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Description
Test your knowledge on types of selection, mechanisms of evolution, and the process of speciation. This quiz covers concepts like artificial selection, genetic drift, and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Discover how evolution shapes the diversity of life around us.
