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GED Science
Lessons 7 & 8 Evolution and Natural Selection & Ecosystems
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) | British naturalist whose observations in the Galapagos Islands led him to formulate the theory of evolution |
evolution | change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift |
adaptations | traits that help an organism survive in its environment |
natural selection | a process that allows individuals that are better adapted to their environments and more likely to survive and reproduce, passing their favorable adaptations to their offspring |
variations | members of a species who have different traits |
ecosystem | an area consisting of a community of organisms (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria) and the physical environment in which they live (soil, air, water, climate) |
biosphere | Earth as a whole is an enormous ecosystem called this |
producers | these organisms use energy from the sun to make their own food through photosynthesis |
consumers | these organisms depend on producers to meet their energy needs |
food web | the complex pattern in which energy passes through an ecosystem (who produces and consumes what) |