Vocabulary
A group of organisms that have similar characteristics and can reproduce.
Species
The islands where Darwin found his evidence for the theory of evolution.
The Galapagos Islands
This is what "selects" the traits that will be advantageous.
The environment
Any trace or remains of a once-living organism that has been preserved by natural processes.
A fossil
Organisms of the same species, in the same place at the same time.
A population
The adaptations that Darwin's finches had.
Beak size and shape, claw size
An inherited trait that improves an organism's chances of surviving and reproducing.
An Adaptation
When organisms try to get their fair share of a limited amount of resources (you saw this in battle of the beaks)
A change to a DNA sequence that occurs randomly. It may or may not cause a change in an organisms traits.
Genetic Mutation
Darwin's finches evolved into so many different species because they had to adapt to these.
Different food sources
This is essential for natural selection to occur. Without it, all organisms of a species would be identical and no traits would be different.
Genetic Variation
The equator.
The variety of living things in a given environment.
Biodiversity
The reason the finches evolved differently.
Isolated on different islands.
An example of how the interactions of abiotic and biotic factors influence the evolution of a species over time.
Survival during or after the ice age; the changing Earth and it's climate.
The change to Earth that caused a need for plants to adapt and evolve.
The ozone layer and our oxygen atmosphere.
How evolution works; when certain traits are more advantageous for a given environment and over time species adapt.
Natural Selection
Survival of the Fittest
The opposite of natural selection, where humans intervene in evolution.
Artificial Selection
A species that has a lot of genetic diversity will be healthier because they have a higher chance of surviving these.
Any change in environment or disease.