Concepts View

A process whereby organisms directly or indirectly control the availability of resources for other organisms by physically modifying their environments. Compare to “Niche Construction.”

Directional change of traits or features in a lineage, or a discernible pattern of change in a large sample of lineages, caused by forces whose operation over time is relatively homogeneous (acting in the same direction). Compare to “Evolutionary Trend (Passive).”

Directional change of traits or features in a lineage, or a discernible pattern of change in a large sample of lineages, caused by forces whose operation over time is heterogeneous (acting in more than one direction). Compare to “Evolutionary Trend (Active, or Driven).”

The capacity or potential of a system to evolve or generate heritable variation.

A trait that evolved to perform a particular function but that was later co-opted (but not selected) to play a different role; or, a trait that evolved as a correlate of growth or accidental by-product of selection that was later co-opted (but not selected) for a new role. Exaptations have no proper evolutionary function, but nonetheless increase fitness by their presence.

Activities that are capable of searching out and finding targets in a novel environment. Examples include ambulatory exploration, vertebrate adaptive immunity, and the formation of microtubule structures.