Evolution
What explains why there are many kinds of plants and animals and why they fit their homes?
Evolution
What term describes the process where individuals with helpful traits survive and have more offspring, making those traits more common?
Natural selection
What is a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment?
Adaptation
What term describes differences among individuals of the same species that natural selection needs to work?
Variation
What are small changes in genes called?
Mutations
What is evolution?
The process by which living things change over many generations.
Why do helpful traits become more common over time?
Because individuals with helpful traits survive and reproduce more, passing these traits onto their offspring.
Give one example of a physical adaptation.
An arctic fox's white fur helps it blend into the snow, protecting it from predators.
What is variation?
Differences among individuals of the same species.
Name 3 things that mutations can be.
Helpful
Harmful
Neutral
Name one way evolution can happen.
Genetic mutation
Movement of individuals between populations/migration
Natural selection
In the rabbit example, what trait helped some rabbits survive predators and why did that trait become more common?
Faster speed. A larger number of faster rabbits survived and had more babies, passing on the trait.
Give one example of a behavioral adaptation
Birds migrating to find food.
Name 2 ways variation happens
Genes
The environment
How long does evolution usually take?
Many generations
Name 2 ways evolution can happen.
Genetic mutation
Movement of individuals between populations/migration
Natural selection
Why does natural selection need variation?
If every individual were exactly the same, there would be nothing for nature to "select"
Name the two categories of adaptations.
Physical
Behavioral
Why did the population of beetles change from having both green and brown beetles to mostly brown beetles?
The green beetles were easier for birds to see, so they were eaten more often. More brown beetles survived and had more babies, passing along this trait.
Give an example of an adaptation that can happen much faster than normal.
Bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.
Name 3 reasons why scientists study evolution.
Fighting diseases
Growing better crops
Protecting endangered species
What is natural selection?
The process where individuals with helpful traits survive and have more offspring, making these traits more common.
What is an adaptation?
A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
Name 2 ways an Arctic fox has adapted to its environment.
Thick fur to keep it warm
White fur to camouflage it from predators