Topic 5- Adaptation

Question 1

Adaptation

Answer 1

1. The evolutionary process by which a population of organisms becomes better able to survive and reproduce (and hence have increased fitness) in their environment
2. The state reached by a population via this process
3. A heritable phenotype (i.e. trait) that enhances survival and/or reproduction on an organsim in its current environnment

Question 2

Exaptations

Answer 2

Exaptations are adaptations that have arisen after a change in function

Question 3

Acclimation/acclimatization

Answer 3

-A process by which an individual organisms adjusts to a change in its environment to minmize the effect of stressors and to maintain performance
-contrast with the process of adaptation

Question 4

Comparative method

Answer 4

seeks to correlate differences among populations or species with variations in a presumed selective agent (e.g. differences in biotic and abiotic factors)

Question 5

Darwinian daemons

Answer 5

An ‘ideal’ organism that would simultaneously maximize all aspects of fitness; it would begin breeding immediately after birth, produce many large offspring and continue to do so indefinitely with no decline in performance.

Question 6

Why dont we see “Darwinian daemons?/Why do we see imperfections in adaptation

Answer 6

1. Selection acts on existing variation
2. Historical constraints
3. Trade-offs
4. Environments change
5. Other evolutionary processes may matter