vertebrates
Animals that have backbones. Compare invertebrates.
Subject:
Chapter 5 - Evolution and Biodiversity: Origins, Niches, and Adaptation
theory of evolution
Widely accepted scientific idea that all life-forms developed from earlier life-forms. Although this theory conflicts with the creation stories of many religions, it is the way biologists explain how life has changed over the past 3.6-3.8 billion years and why it is so diverse today.
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speciation
Formation of two species from one species because of divergent natural selection in response to changes in environmental conditions; usually takes thousands of years. Compare extinction.
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specialist species
Species with a narrow ecological niche. They may be able to (1) live in only one type of habitat, (2) tolerate only a narrow range of climatic and other environmental conditions, or (3) use only one type or a few types of food. Compare generalist species.
Subject:
reproductive isolation
Long-term geographic separation of members of a particular sexually reproducing species.
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reproduction
Production of offspring by one or more parents.
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realized niche
Parts of the fundamental niche of a species that are actually used by that species. See ecological niche, fundamental niche.
Subject:
plants (plantae)
Eukaryotic, mostly multicellular organisms such as algae (red, blue, and green), mosses, ferns, flowers, cacti, grasses, beans, wheat, rice, and trees. These organisms use photosynthesis to produce organic nutrients for themselves and for other organisms feeding on them. Water and other inorganic nutrients are obtained from the soil for terrestrial plants and from the water for aquatic plants.
Subject:
niche
See ecological niche.
Subject:
natural selection
Process by which a particular beneficial gene (or set of genes) is reproduced in succeeding generations more than other genes. The result of natural selection is a population that contains a greater proportion of organisms better adapted to certain environmental conditions. See adaptation, biological evolution, differential reproduction, mutation.
Subject:
Pages
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