Variation
What is variation within a species?
Differences between individuals of the same species.
What is natural selection?
Organisms with useful traits survive and reproduce more.
What can happen when environments change suddenly?
Species adapt, move, or die.
Why is variation important?
It helps survival.
Give one example of variation in humans.
Height, eye color, fingerprints, etc.
Why does white fur help rabbits survive in snow?
Camouflage helps hide from predators.
What is extinction?
When all members of a species die.
What happens when food becomes limited?
Competition increases.
What causes variation between individuals?
Genetic differences and environmental factors.
What happens to useful traits over generations?
They become more common.
Name one human activity that damages habitats.
Pollution, deforestation, etc.
A drought kills plants. What happens to plant-eating animals?
Their population decreases.
Two dogs belong to the same species but have different fur colors. Why?
Because dogs have genetic differences.
Birds with long beaks survive drought better. What happens after many generations?
Long-beaked birds become more common.
Why can environmental change lead to extinction?
Some species cannot adapt quickly enough.
A cold environment becomes warmer. Which animals survive better?
Animals better adapted to warm conditions.
Explain how variation helps species survive environmental changes.
Some individuals have traits that help survival and reproduction.
Explain natural selection using your own example.
Example: Animals with helpful traits survive and pass traits to offspring.
Give two effects habitat destruction can have on populations.
A predator enters a new ecosystem. Predict two possible effects.