Natural selection

Adaptation refers to the traits that enhance survival and reproduction success of an organism
Evolution is the gradual change or genetic change in organisms that result in phenotypic change
Natural selection is the inherited characteristics that certain organisms have that give them an
advantage in survival skills and reproduction than other organisms that don’t have.
Biological evolution refers to the change in genetic composition of a population over time.
Types of selection
1. Directional
- This occurs when individuals at one extreme of a trait contributes more offspring to the
next generation.
2. Disruptive
- This occurs when both of extremes of a trait are favored simultaneously
3. Stabilizing
- This occurs when individuals at one extreme of a trait contributes fewer offspring to the
next generation than those individuals with average.

Isolating Mechanisms

1. Reproductive- Prevents different species from interbreeding due to differences in

reproductive structures or behaviors.
2. Geographic- Separates populations of species by physical barriers like mountains or
rivers.
3. Behavioral- Occurs when differences in mating rituals or behaviors prevent interbreeding
between populations.
4. Temporal- Prevents interbreeding between species due to differences in mating times or
seasons.
Types of speciation (the formation of new species)

1. Paratactic
- Original species takes over most of the older species then forms a new niche. The two
species/ niche (new and adjacent niche) can interbreed with each other however they
don’t.
- Example: Grass growing in areas contaminated with heavy metals, not reproductively
isolated, reduce gene flow.

2. Allopatric(alios=other)
- Original species are broken by geographical barrier then further on produces new species.
- Example: The formation of the Grand Canyon that cause the separation between the
Kaibab and Albert squirrels (new species that don’t interbreed)

3. Sympatric(sym=together)
- The original species are isolated from the older species inside the same circles.
- Example: Hawthorn flies and apple flies genetically isolated while in the same.

4. Peripatic(peri=periphery)
- Original species bud off and forms new niche however the old niche is isolated meaning
they cannot interbreed.
- Example: Mainland vs Island flies; the mainland flies only interbreed with mainland flies
as for the Island flies due to them being reproductively isolated.
CAPE Syllabus:

1. Explain how environmental factors act as forces of natural selection.

- Environmental factors act as forces of natural selection by influencing which traits are
advantageous for survival and reproduction in a given habitat, leading to the selection of
individuals with better-suited traits over time.

2. Explain how natural selection may be an agent of constancy or an agent of change.

- Natural selection can act as both an agent of constancy by favoring traits that help
organisms maintain their current form and function, or as an agent of change by
promoting adaptations that lead to new traits and species over time.

3. Discuss natural selection as a mechanism of evolution.

- Natural selection, a central mechanism of evolution in Darwin's theory, explains how
species with advantageous traits that aid in survival and reproduction are more likely to
pass on their genes to future generations, shaping the characteristics of populations over
time.