Ecology and Evolution

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IB Biology SL II                                                                Ryan Martucci

Topic: 4 – Ecology and Evolution                                 Date:  5-24-02              Period: 4th

Sub-topic: 4.3 – Evolution

4.3.1        1        Define evolution.

Evolution refers to the processes that have transformed life on Earth from

its earliest forms to the vast diversity that characterizes it today.

4.3.2        1        State that populations tend to produce more offspring than the

environment can support.

Populations tend to produce more offspring than the environment can

support.

4.3.3        3        Explain that the consequences of the potential overproducing of offspring

is a struggle for survival.

Natural selection is the unequal ability of individuals to survive and

reproduce.  But, natural selection occurs through the interaction of the

individuals with the environment and favorable variations of individuals.  

So individuals that have favorable characteristics will stay alive and cause

natural selection to take place and reproduce offspring.  If there is an

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overproduction of offspring the species with the characteristics needed to

survive and live to the next generation and reproduce.  This trend will lead

to the extinction of the individuals with the unfavorable characteristics,

who could not survive, and the growth of the population with the

Topic: 4 – Ecology and Evolution

Sub-topic: 4.3 – Evolution

Page: 2

favorable characteristics and these organisms are the ones that reproduce

exponentially.  

4.3.4        1        State that the members of a species show variation.

                The members of a species show variation.

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