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Natural selection, speciation and conservation

Biodiversity, evolution and ecology · Lesson 2 of 4

Lesson 2 of 4

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Lesson 2 of 4 · Biodiversity, evolution and ecology

Natural selection, speciation and conservation

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By the end you’ll be able to

explain how mutation, meiosis and sexual reproduction generate genetic variation within populations and how selection pressures affect survival and reproductive success
explain natural selection in terms of differential survival, reproductive success, changing allele frequencies and adaptation, and distinguish natural selection from artificial selection

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explain speciation as the formation of reproductively isolated populations, including the role of geographical isolation, ecological isolation, genetic divergence and selection

distinguish between stabilising, directional and disruptive selection and predict their effects on phenotypic distributions in populations

evaluate conservation strategies for maintaining biodiversity, including in situ and ex situ conservation, habitat management, legal protection, captive breeding, seed banks and the role of zoos or botanic gardens

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