Psych 301 Chapter 3

Front 1

Theory

Back 1

not a tentative/unproven, but highly developed and organized explanatory system.

Front 2

Basic concepts of Darwin's theory of evolution

Back 2

1. Variation within species
2. Heritability
3. Adaptation
4. Natural Selection

Front 3

Variations within Species

Back 3

Individuals are different physically and behaviorally.

Front 4

Heritability

Back 4

Differences between individuals are inherited.

Front 5

Adaptation

Back 5

Individuals must adapt to the enviroments to which they are confronted with.

Front 6

Natural Selection

Back 6

Conditions of nature will tend to select for survival those animals that cope best with whatever situations confront them. The survivors are best adapted, and can reproduce to pass on their traits.

Front 7

Role of Geographic Isolation in Speciation

Back 7

One species begins to diverge into two or more separate populations when members become isolated by environmental circumstances. They can no long mate with each other

Front 8

Fitness

Back 8

Physical traits + behaviors that help organisms survive and reproduce in their environments. Measured by reproduction.

Front 9

Sexual Selection

Back 9

the process where nature selects differenct traits and behavrios in males and females because different characteristics maximixe reproductive success for each sex.

Example - male deer larger and more aggressive compete for female

Front 10

Intrasexual Selection

Back 10

competition between members of same species. Aggressive traits

Front 11

Intersexual Selection

Back 11

traits that dazzle are more likely to mate. (Peacocks)

Front 12

Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (Gould and Eldridge)

Back 12

Species may remain stable for hundreds of generations then change noticeably in only a few generations. Supported by the Grants observing the finches in the Galapagos Islands. Finches beaks evolved in response to the available food during drought.

Front 13

Convergent Evolution

Back 13

Accidental process where different species independently evolve similar solutions to adaptation.

Whales and Dolphins.

Front 14

Divergent Evolution

Back 14

Where species with a common ancestor evolve different bodily structures from the same original structures.

Polar bears evolved from earlier bears.

Front 15

Vestigal Organs

Back 15

parts of the body that have no apparent function at all

Front 16

Evolution as Fact

Back 16

Fossil Record
Biogeography
Homologous Structures
Imperfections

Front 17

Frequency Dependent Selection

Back 17

some traits may increase their reproductive advantage when they become rare.

A predator may only prey when the species is plentiful.
Also, while the big aggressive males are fighting, the little ones slip in to mate with the females.

Front 18

Behavioral changes precede physical changes

Back 18

Behavior gives the physical traits a reason to evolve.

Example: Large antlers don't need to evolve unless aggression is a trait.

Front 19

Behavioral Ecologists

Back 19

Where evolution, behavior and ecology meet in examining the behavior of living individual animals.

Front 20

The Great Tit's clutch

Back 20

Food. There is small number of predators therefore it can have many, yet it can't afford to feed them all. Cost Benefit Analysis discovered that.

Front 21

Optimality Theory

Back 21

highest possible reproductive outcome

Front 22

Ecological Niche

Back 22

animal that appears to be well adapted to the environment it lives in

Front 23

Adaptive Radiation

Back 23

when a species spreads to new habitats and it's offspring evolve into different species in response to spread.

Front 24

Disruptive Selection

Back 24

Selects the ends of a normal distribution because they have greater reproductive success.

Example - small and large salmon are chosen for reproduction

Front 25

Directional Selection

Back 25

selects only one ends of the distrubution.

Example - Grants' finches larger beaks and smaller body size were selected

Front 26

Stabilizing Selection

Back 26

MIddle is selected of the distribution.

Example - birds reproduce between feb and may. Birds that produce in the mid months have better chance of survival

Front 27

Handicapping Principle

Back 27

Females select males with intra/inter sexual traits because it shows reliable reproductivity.