The document discusses key concepts of evolution in ecosystems including natural selection, adaptations, evolution, coevolution, artificial selection, and evolution of resistance. It explains that Darwin proposed natural selection where traits that help individuals survive and reproduce are passed on, leading populations to evolve over generations in response to their environment or interactions with other species through processes like coevolution. The document also notes that humans can influence evolution through artificial selection of domesticated plants and animals or cause unwanted evolution of resistance in pests when using pesticides.

1. Evolution in Ecosystems Environmental Science

2. Charles Darwin Charles Darwin introduced evolution in 1859 in his book On the Origin of Species In this book he describes the process of Natural Selection

3. Natural Selection Darwin noticed that individuals in a population are not exactly alike. He proposed that the environment exerts a strong influence on which individuals survive and which die The individuals that survive will pass on their traits to their offspring Traits that increase the chance that an individual survives and reproduces are called adaptations

4. Evolution Over several generations natural selection can cause the traits of a population to change The change in genetics of a population over generations is called evolution

5. Coevolution Coevolution occurs when two species evolve in response to long-term interactions Includes symbiotic relationships Ex. Flowers and hummingbirds

6. Artificial Selection There are several species that have been domesticated by humans Thus humans control how they reproduce and evolve - called artificial selection These species include plants and animals Ex. Corn, wheat, roses, dogs, horses, etc.

7. Evolution of Resistance Sometimes humans cause organisms to evolve unwanted adaptations When pesticide is sprayed, not every insect is killed. The survivors reproduce and the next generation is more resistant to the pesticide Resistance – the ability of an organism to survive a chemical designed to kill it

8. Pesticide Resistance