Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is gene flow primarily concerned with?
What is gene flow primarily concerned with?
Which factor is an example of non-random mating?
Which factor is an example of non-random mating?
How does the bottleneck effect impact a population's gene pool?
How does the bottleneck effect impact a population's gene pool?
What does microevolution primarily involve?
What does microevolution primarily involve?
Signup and view all the answers
In what type of distribution are individuals found in close proximity to each other?
In what type of distribution are individuals found in close proximity to each other?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement best describes population density?
Which statement best describes population density?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary role of a niche within a habitat?
What is the primary role of a niche within a habitat?
Signup and view all the answers
What does a dynamic equilibrium in populations imply?
What does a dynamic equilibrium in populations imply?
Signup and view all the answers
What is meant by biotic potential?
What is meant by biotic potential?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best defines evolution?
Which of the following best defines evolution?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Mechanisms of Evolution
- Mutations: Random changes in an organism's genetic material.
- Gene Flow: Net movement of alleles (versions of genes) into or out of a population.
- Non-Random Mating/Sexual Selection: One sex (often female) chooses mates based on traits.
- Genetic Drift: Changes in allele frequencies due to chance events in small populations.
- Founder Effect: New population established by a small group, leading to a different gene pool compared to the original population.
- Bottleneck Effect: Dramatic reduction in population size due to events like habitat loss or disasters, significantly reducing genetic diversity.
- Natural Selection: Individuals with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully, passing those traits to offspring.
- Evolution: Change in population characteristics over time.
- Microevolution: Changes in allele frequencies in a population over time.
Population Characteristics and Dynamics
- Environmental Changes: Can cause selective pressures (factors favouring or disfavouring certain traits)
- Community: All populations of different species in a given area.
- Ecosystem: Includes both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
- Habitat: Physical environment where an organism lives.
- Niche: Roles played by members of a population within a community.
- Population Size: Number of organisms of the same species in a habitat at a given time.
- Population Density: Number of individuals per unit area.
-
Dispersion: Arrangement of individuals within a habitat.
- Clumped Distribution: Individuals grouped together.
- Random Distribution: Individuals spaced randomly.
- Uniform Distribution: Individuals spaced evenly apart.
- Dynamic Equilibrium: Populations tend to maintain a steady state, adjusting to environmental changes.
- Biotic Potential: The maximum possible growth rate of a population in ideal conditions.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your understanding of the key mechanisms driving evolution, including mutations, gene flow, and natural selection. This quiz covers concepts such as genetic drift, the founder effect, and bottleneck effect, exploring how these factors shape population characteristics over time.
