Master the fundamentals of natural selection with these comprehensive, test-ready notes designed for quick understanding and success. This guide covers essential terms like adaptation, fitness, and mutation, along with key principles such as genetic variation, overproduction, and survival pressure,...
Unit 1: Natural Selection
Terms and Definitions:
Adaption: the process by which an organism changes to survive and reproduce in its environment
Fitness: the ability of an organism, population, or species to survive and reproduce in its environment and
pass on its genes to the next generation
Mutation: a change in the sequence of DNA
Species: animals that are similar and reproductively isolated (do not mate)
Genetic variation: difference species have different traits due to genetic mutations
Overproduction: where a species overproduces offspring
Survival pressure: where animals have to compete with the environment or other animals to
survive
Predation: where another species preys and relies on another
Geographic isolation: when the two species are split by geographical features
Behavioral isolation: when species are isolated by their behavior
Temporal isolation: when species are isolated by different mating seasons
Directional selection: when 1 extreme trait is better than the other
Stabilizing selection: when the average trait is better than both extremes
Disruptive selection: when both extreme traits are better than the average
Natural Selection Principles (main 4):
Definition: the natural process over a long period of time that makes inheritable traits and behaviors more
or less common
● Genetic variation: difference species have different traits due to genetic mutations
○ Analysis: because there are a variety of traits, there will be some more
advantageous than others, producing a higher chance of survival and reproduction
● Overproduction: where a species overproduces offspring
○ Analysis: if a species overproduces, this means that there are more competitors
than resources, meaning the species best fit for the environment will be able to get
the resources first and reproduce while the others die off
● Survival pressure: where animals have to compete with the environment or other animals
to survive
○ Analysis: because of environmental factors or overproduction, survival pressures
favor genes which can adapt to the habitat, which those animals have a higher
chance of survival and reproduction
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller anniemeng411. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
