2. II. Evolution in Ecosystems

3. A. Evolving to a niche 1. Evolution is the changes in the frequency of a trait in a population due to environmental pressure 2. Mostly is done to avoid competition a. Competition= extinction or adaptation

6. 3. Becoming specialized means you do one specific task very well a. Extremely fragile 4. Generalized species have a wide niche doing many things very well

8. B.Convergent evolution 1. Similar ecosystems can have similar niches a. Organisms in those niches can be similar 2. Convergent evolution- the similar adaptation in two species with similar niches

9. 3. Examples a. Wings of bats and birds b. Shapes of sharks and dolphins c. Eyes of mammals and octopi

11. C. Co evolution 1. Organisms can have evolutionary influence on each other 2. Co evolution- species that interact closely will adapt to one another 3. Predators and prey a. Cheetah and antelope

12. 4. The ant and the acacia tree a. Ants use the hollow thorns as nests b. Ants kill any organism trying to prey on the tree including other plants c. Studies have shown that the two cannot live without each other