AP Biology Evolution Assessment

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What is disruptive selection?

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Disruptive selection is a type of natural selection that favors individuals at both extremes of a trait distribution, leading to two or more contrasting phenotypes in a population.

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What is 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 stabilizing selection?

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Stabilizing selection is a type of natural selection that favors the average individuals in a population, reducing variation and maintaining the status quo for a particular trait.

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What is the significance of genetic variation in natural selection?

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Genetic variation is crucial for natural selection as it provides the raw material for evolution, allowing populations to adapt to changing environments.

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What does it mean for species to experience geographical isolation?

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Geographical isolation occurs when a physical barrier divides a population, preventing members from mating and leading to speciation.

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What is the principle of common descent?

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The principle of common descent states that all living organisms share a common ancestor, which explains the similarities in their structures and genetic makeup.

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What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

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Homologous structures are similar due to shared ancestry, while analogous structures are similar due to convergent evolution, not common ancestry.

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What is sexual selection?

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Sexual selection is a form of natural selection where individuals with certain traits are more likely to attract mates, influencing reproductive success.

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What is behavioral isolation?

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Behavioral isolation occurs when two populations develop different mating behaviors or rituals, preventing them from interbreeding.

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What is the role of fitness in natural selection?

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Fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment; higher fitness means more offspring and greater contribution to the gene pool.