- A specific modification (to a certain trait)  that is most likely to be passed on during the process of natural selection, and will be seen in the majority of the population 

Adaptations 

- A type of natural selection in which one sex may favor certain traits of another sex as they choose someone to reproduce with 

Sexual Selection 

A unique set of environmental opportunities or challenges to which an organism is adapted. Different animals have evolved neural behaviors and mechanisms to allow them to maneuver ecological niches. 

Ecological Niche

- Heritable Traits
- More offspring are produced than can survive
- offspring vary in heritable traits

Darwin's Key Observations of Natural Selection

Natural selection depends on an environment and what traits are superior within that environment. Traits favorable in one environment may be harmful in another. The environment provides the context of natural selection. 

Natural Selection within an Environment

Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution through natural selection, defining it as 'descent with modification.' He published his theories in his influential book 'On the Origin of Species.' A well-known painted portrait captures his appearance during the period he developed his theories.

Charles Darwin

- While evolution allows for modifications to occur in species over time, only the most advantageous modifications will be passed on to the descendants of a population over time 
- This is known as natural selection, first described by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace

Smith College

The process in which physical/behavioral changes of a population occur over long periods of time. Evolution is a scientific theory that for over the last 150 years, scientists have gathered an overwhelming amount of evidence that supports this theory.  

Evolution 

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

Evolution through Natural Selection

Rapid evolution in plants and animals that is instigated by human behavior, often through the manipulation of genes. 

Evolution through Artificial Selection 

Evolution is a constant process that is not exclusive to the past and occurs in our modern day! For example, cod fish have recently, rapidly evolved to be smaller in order to avoid human capture in light of excessive fishing.

Current Examples of Evolution

The mutual influence of two or more species on one another's evolution.

Coevolution

Evolution Reference Library

- The study of the evolutionary history of a certain group of organisms, utilizes taxonomy to show relationships 
- Often represented as a family tree to show which species "yielded" later ones

Phylogeny

- Social Anthropology 

- Cultural Anthropology

- Linguistic Anthropology

- Biological or Physical Anthropology

- Visual Anthropology

- Psychological Anthropology

- Archaeology 

- Applied Anthropology 

- Nutritional Anthropology 

- Digital Anthropology

Subdisciplines of Anthropology

The study of human behavior, societies, and cultures throughout history (including the present). Anthropology, in broad terms, studies methods to describe and explain the similarities and differences in biology and culture of all humanity in all times and places. 

Anthropology

Evolution by natural selection was first demonstrated by the observation that more offspring are often produced than can possibly survive. This is followed by three observable facts about living organisms: 
- 1) Traits vary among individuals with respect to their morphology, physiology, and behavior (phenotypic variation)
- 2) Different traits confer different rates of survival and reproduction (differential fitness)
- 3) Traits can be passed from generation to generation (heritability of fitness)

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