Unit 2 Vocab Terms

A group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in terms of size, shape and behavior

Number of species in a given area

A relative portion of individuals within the different species in a given area (numerically dominated by one species or not)

Branching pattern of evolutionary relationships

The environment determines which individuals survive and reproduce

Individuals ability to survive and reproduce

Improves individuals fitness

Moving from one population to another and altering the genetic composition of both populations

Change in the genetic composition of a population overtime as a result of random mating

Reduction in the genetic diversity of a population caused by size reduction

Change in genetic composition of a population as a result of descending from a smaller number of colonizing individuals

When one species splits into two species without geographic isolation

The number of chromosomes increases (3 or 4)

Natural Selection

Artificial Selection

The suite of abiotic conditions under which a species can survive, grow and reproduce

Range of abiotic and biotic factors under which a species actually lives

When large numbers of animals go extinct in a very short amount of time

Occur regularly like day and night or the moon and the ocean tides

Occur somewhat regularly like high and low rain every 5-10 years

Occur with no regular pattern like hurricanes and volcanic eruptions

The measure of how much a disruption can affect the flows of energy and matter

The rate at which an ecosystem returns to it’s original state after a disruption

Ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance will favor a higher level of diversity of species that those with high or low Disturbance levels