Chapter 4 Key Terms

Question 1

Evolution

Answer 1

the process through which populations change genetically over time

Question 2

Mutations

Answer 2

changes in the coded genetic info on your DNA

Question 3

Phylogenic Trees

Answer 3

shows the evolutionary relationships between species over time. Going back “up” the tree reveals common ancestors

Question 4

Adaptation

Answer 4

the acquisition of traits that allow a species to survive in its environment

Question 5

Natural Selection

Answer 5

when environment conditions in a particular area can favor certain traits or characteristics

Question 6

Ecological Niche

Answer 6

how a species uses its habitat and the habitat the species occupies

Question 7

Generalists

Answer 7

species that have greater niche flexibility that can tolerate a wide range of habitat conditions or exploit a wide range of resources

Question 8

Specialists

Answer 8

species that occupy a narrow ecological niche

Question 9

Endemic Species

Answer 9

species that occur only in one area or type of environment

Question 10

Limiting Factor

Answer 10

anything that constrains the growth of an organism or population

Question 11

Tolerance Limits

Answer 11

chemical or physical factors that limit the existence, growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism

Question 12

Indicator Species

Answer 12

a species that indicates the presence of particular environmental conditions

Question 13

The Principle of Competitive Exclusion

Answer 13

no two coexisting species can have identical niches for long

Question 14

Speciation

Answer 14

the splitting of one species into two different species

Question 15

Allopatric Speciation

Answer 15

speciation that occurs when some kind of barrier isolates part of a population

Question 16

Sympatric Speciation

Answer 16

speciation that occurs without a geographical barrier

Question 17

Taxonomy

Answer 17

the study of types of organisms and their relationships. Helps biologists organize and understand biological diversity

Question 18

Binomials

Answer 18

names that identify and describe species. First word is the genus, second the species

Question 19

Coevolution

Answer 19

when two or more species affect each other’s evolutionary process

Question 20

Batesian Mimicry

Answer 20

when a harmless species evolves to look like poisonous or distasteful species and gain protection against predators who have learned to avoid prey that looks like that

Question 21

Müllerian Mimicry

Answer 21

when two unpalatable or dangerous species look alike and both benefit from predators learning to avoid one or the other

Question 22

Interspecific Competition

Answer 22

competition between different species

Question 23

Intraspecific competition

Answer 23

competition between members of the same species