Term
| What is divergent evolution and what causes it? |
|
Definition
| Divergent evolution is closely related species becoming increasingly different. This is caused by different environments that the organisms live in. |
|
|
Term
| The North American kangaroo rat and the Australian hopping mouse are not closely related, but both have developed similar traits that help them survive in a hot desert environment. What kind of evolution is this? |
|
Definition
| Convergent evolution-different species evolve similar traits due to similar habitats |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| When two or more species evolve in response to changes in each other |
|
|
Term
| What is the difference between background extinctions and mass extinctions? |
|
Definition
| Background extincts are less severe and occur at a local level. They also happen all the time. Mass extinctions are very severe and happen at a global level. There are only five (5) recorded mass extinctions in Earth's history. |
|
|
Term
| How are gradualism and punctuated equilibrium different? Which is correct about evolution? |
|
Definition
| Gradualism is the slow and steady change of one species into another. Punctuated equilibrium is rapid periods of evolution. Both are correct. |
|
|
Term
| What is the evolutionary arms race? |
|
Definition
| When two species responds to pressure from the other through better adaptations over many evolutions. Example- A snake(predator) and a poisonous newt(prey). The snake evolves to have a resistance to the poison, so the newt evolves to have a stronger poison, so the snake evolves to resist that poison, so the newt evolves a stronger poison, and so on. |
|
|
Term
| What is adaptive radiation? |
|
Definition
| The diversification of one ancestral species into many descendant species. |
|
|
