Apes Chapter 5 Vocabulary

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hydrothermal vents

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A location where building block amino acids formed which sit atop cracks in the ocean
floor leading to subterranean chambers of molten rock.

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Fossils

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Mineralized or petrified replicas of skeletons, bones, teeth, shells, leaves, and seeds, or impressions of
such items.

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Biological evolution

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The change in a population’s genetic makeup through successive generations

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Evolution

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The change in a population’s genetic makeup through successive generations

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Theory of evolution

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Theory that states all species descended from earlier, ancestral species.

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Microevolution

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Used to describe the small genetic changes that occur in a population

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Macroevolution

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Used to describe long-term, large-scale evolutionary changes through which new species are formed from ancestral species and others are lost through extinction

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Niche

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The species’ way of life or functional role in an ecosystem

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Habitat

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The physical location where a species lives.

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Genetic variability

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The variety of genes within a population.

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gene pool

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the set of all genes in the individuals of a population of a species

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alleles

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slightly different molecular form found in a particular gene.

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mutations

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random changes in the structure or number of DNA molecules in a cell

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mutagens

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radioactivity, x rays, and natural and human-made chemicals that cause mutations

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Natural selection

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Process by which a particular beneficial gene is reproduced in succeeding generations more
than other genes.

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Adaptation

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Any genetically controlled structure, physiological, or behavioral characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce under a given set of environmental conditions.

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Artificial selection

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Process by which humans select one or more desirable genetic traits in the population and the use selective breeding to achieve the desired trait.

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Speciation

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Formation of two species from one species because of divergent natural selection.

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Geographic isolation

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Isolation that occurs when groups of the same population of a species become physically separated. It is the first phase of speciation.

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Reproductive isolation

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The second phase of speciation. It means that populations cannot interbreed or
cannot produce live fertile offspring.

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Divergence

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It occurs when mutation and natural selection operate independently and change the allele frequencies in different ways.

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Divergent evolution

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Speciation through geographic and reproductive isolation.

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Extinction

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Complete disappearance of a species from the earth.

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Background extinction

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When a certain number of species disappear at a low rate.

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Mass extinction

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A significant rise in extinction rates above the background level.

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Mass depletion

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Time in which extinction rates are higher than normal but not high enough to classify as a mass extinction.

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Adaptive radiations

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Process by which numerous new species evolve to fill vacant and new ecological niches in a changed environment.

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Biodiversity

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Term including species diversity, genetic diversity, ecological diversity, and functional

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Chemical evolution

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Formation of the earth and its early crust and atmosphere and the evolution of biological molecules and of systems of chemical reactions.

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Protocells

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Small globules that could take up materials from their environment and grow and divide

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Directional natural selection

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A shift to one extreme that decrease the population of another extreme.

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Stabilizing natural selection

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A favoring of the average which decreases the population of both extremes.

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Diversifying natural selection

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A favoring of both extremes, which decrease the population of the average.

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Coevolution

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microevolution of two species due to the evolution of the other species.

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Fundamental niche

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the full potential range of physical, chemical, and biological conditions and resources a species could use if there were no direct competition from other species.

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Realized niche

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A species occupation of only part of its fundamental niche in a particular community or ecosystem.

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Generalist species

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Species that have broad niches. They can live in many places, eat a variety of foods, and can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions.

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Specialist species

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Species with narrow niches. They may be able to live only in one type of habitat, use only one or a few types of foods, and tolerate a narrow range of environmental conditions.

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Differential reproduction

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Reproduction in which a trait must be passed down through leaving offspring. More offspring must be left with that trait than other members of the population.