OAT BIOLOGY - Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Exam Questions and Answers

Lamarckian Evolution - Answer-The discredited theory that evolution proceeds through the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Acquired characteristics arise from use or disuse during an organism's life; "if you don't use it, you lose it." Classic example - giraffes and their neck Darwin's Theory of Evolution - Answer-Pressures in the environment select for the organism most fit to survive and reproduce through natural selection. "Survival of the fittest" Speciation - Answer-the formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution. Gene flow is impossible between different species. Convergent evolution - Answer-When two species from DIFFERENT ancestors develop similar traits. Ex. Dolphins and sharks have come to resemble one another physically despite belonging to different classes of vertebrates. Despite different recent ancestors, they evolved certain similar features in adapting to the conditions of aquatic life. Parallel evolution - Answer-Occurs when related but distinct species independently develop a similar, rather than different trait Divergent evolution - Answer-Occurs when species with a SHARED ancestor develop differing traits due to dissimilarities between their environment. adaptive radiation - Answer-The emergence of a number of lineages from a single ancestral species. Ex. species on an island like the Darwin finches from Galapagos island Hardy-Weinberg equation - Answer-may be used to determine gene frequencies in a large population in the absence of microevolutionary change Hardy-Weinberg's 5 Conditions - Answer-1. Random mating 2. No natural selection 3. No migration or emigration 4. Large populations 5. No mutations