Chapter 1 - Adaptation By Natural Selection Flashcards Preview

Biological Anthropology > Chapter 1 - Adaptation By Natural Selection > Flashcards

Flashcards in Chapter 1 - Adaptation By Natural Selection Deck (16)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

adaptations

A

Components of an organism that interact to help it survive and reproduce

2
Q

natural selection

A

Evolution by variation and selective retention

3
Q

postulates of Darwin’s theory of adaptation

A

1) The struggle for existence
2) Variation in fitness
3) Inheritance of variation

4
Q

the struggle for existence

A

The ability of a population to expand is infinite, but the ability of any environment to support populations is always finite

5
Q

variation in fitness

A

Organisms within populations vary, in this variation affects the ability of individuals to survive and reproduce

6
Q

inheritance of variation

A

Variations in individuals are transmitted from parents to offspring

7
Q

morphology

A

An organisms size, shape, and composition

8
Q

stabilising selection

A

An organism reaches equilibrium with its environment, thus causing offsprings’ traits to be selected for constancy

9
Q

traits

A

Characteristics of an individual

10
Q

species

A

Populations of varied individuals that may or may not change through time

11
Q

individual selection

A

Adaptation results from the competition among individuals, not between entire populations or species

12
Q

fecundity

A

The ability to produce offspring

13
Q

continuous variation

A

Even distribution in the range of expression of various traits among individuals in a population

14
Q

discontinuous variation

A

A number of distinct expressions of a trait exist among individuals with in a population, with no intermediaries

15
Q

convergence

A

Evolution of similar adaptations in unrelated groups of animals

16
Q

blending inheritance

A

A model of inheritance that assumes the mother and father each contribute a hereditary substance that mixes or blends” to determine the characteristics of the offspring