Biological Evolution Flashcard

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What is mutualism?

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Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction. An example is a bee pollinating a flower while receiving nutrients.

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How do invasive plants affect native ecosystems?

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Invasive plants can damage the environment by competing with native species, changing plant communities, and altering biodiversity.

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What role does a primary consumer play in a food web?

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A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers (plants) to obtain energy. For example, a snail is a primary consumer.

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What are mass extinctions?

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Mass extinctions are events where a significant number of species die out in a relatively short period, often due to sudden catastrophic events or rapid environmental changes.

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What are the mechanisms of biological evolution?

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The mechanisms of biological evolution include natural selection, genetic drift, mutations, and gene flow.

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Define natural selection.

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Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What is genetic drift?

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Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population.

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Explain the concept of mutations in evolution.

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Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome, which can lead to new traits and contribute to genetic diversity.

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What is gene flow?

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Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations, which can increase genetic diversity and affect evolution.

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What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

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A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.