selection and evolution

• What does the term "ecosystem carrying capacity" refer to?

  The maximum population size for a species
• What two types of factors affect the maximum population size?

  Abiotic and biotic factors
• What effect does temperature have on the carrying capacity?

  It can cause it to increase
• Name an abiotic factor that can affect carrying capacity.

  Light
• What effect does a lack of water have on carrying capacity?

  It can cause it to decrease
• Name an abiotic factor that can affect carrying capacity.

  pH
• What happens to food availability as a population increases over time?

  Food becomes less available
• Increased food availability initially has what effect on carrying capacity?

  It can cause it to increase
• How does competition for food impact the ecosystem carrying capacity?

  It causes it to decrease
• What type of competition involves individuals within the same species?

  Intraspecific
• What type of competition involves individuals of different species?

  Interspecific
• What happens to the frequency of phenotypes under stabilizing selection?

  • Favors intermediate phenotype
  • Over time, the frequency of intermediate phenotype increases
  • Intermediate phenotypes are more likely to survive and pass on the phenotype
• What happens to the frequency of phenotypes under directional selection?

  • Favors extreme phenotype
  • Over time, the frequency of the favored extreme phenotype increases
  • Extreme phenotypes are more likely to survive and pass on the phenotype
• What happens to the frequency of phenotypes under disruptive selection?

  • Favors both extreme phenotypes
  • Over many generations, the frequency of extreme alleles increases
  • The frequency of intermediate phenotypes decreases
• What are abiotic factors?

  Non-living factors
• What are biotic factors?

  Living factors
• Why does the favored phenotype increase in frequency in directional selection?

  Due to natural selection