10. Biodiversity Flashcards
Define biodiversity
The range and variety of genes, species and habitats within a particular region.
Define species diversity
The number of different species and the number of individuals of each species within any one community.
Define genetic diversity
Variety of alleles possessed by the individuals within a population of a species.
Define ecosystem diversity
The range of different habitats within an ecosystem.
Define species
A group of similar organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring.
Define classification
The organisation of living organisms into groups, based on accepting principles
Name the system of naming species
Binomial system
Name and describe the 2 parts of the binomial system.
- The generic name: denotes the genus
- The specific name: denotes the species.
What are the rules of the binomial system?
- Names printed in italics/underlined if handwritten
- First letter of generic name in capitals, specific name in lower case.
- If specific name unknown, written as ‘sp’, e.g. Felix sp
Why is it crucial that mating is successful?
The females of most species only produce eggs at specific times, often as little as once a year. Courtship behaviour determines when the female is in the receptive stage.
Why do members of the same species display the same behaviour?
Because they have the same/similar genes.
How does courtship behaviour help increase the chance of successful mating.
- Recognise members of their own species to ensure that mating can produce fertile offspring.
- Identify a mate capable of breeding because both partners need to be sexually mature, fertile and receptive to mating.
- Form a pair bond that leads to successful mating and raising of offspring.
- Synchronise mating so that it takes place where max probability of sperm and egg meeting.
- Become able to breed by bringing members of opposite sex into a physiological state that allows breeding to occur.
Define taxonomy
Taxonomy is the study of phylogenetic groups (taxa) and their positions in a hierarchical order, where they’re known as taxonomic ranks, based on an evolutionary line of descent of the group members.
What is artificial classification?
Divides organisms according to differences useful at the time, Features include analogous characteristics such as colour, size etc. Have same function but not the same evolutionary origins.
What is phylogenetic classification?
- Based upon evolutionary relationships between organisms and their ancestors.
- Classifies species into groups using shared features derived from ancestors.
- Arranges groups into a hierarchy
Define hierrarchy
Groups contained within larger, composite groups with no overlap.
What is the highest taxonomic rank?
Domain
What are the 3 domains?
Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya
Give features of Bacteria
- Single celled prokaryotes
- Absence of membrane bound organelles
- Unicellular
- Ribosomes smaller than eukaryotes, 70s
- Cell walls made of murein
- Single loop of naked DNA, made up of nucleic acids but no histones
Give features of Archaea
- Single celled prokaryotes
- Cells possess membrane-bound organelles
- Have membranes containing fatty acid chains attached to glycerol by ester bonds
- No murein in cell walls
- More complex RNA polymerase than bacteria
Give features of Eukarya
- Cells possess membrane-bound organelles
- Have membranes containing fatty acid chains linked to glycerol by ester bonds
- Not all cells have cell wall, but ones that do never contain murein
- Ribosomes larger than bacteria, archaea, 80s
- Divided into 4 kingdoms: Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.
Give the classification order
Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Suggest a way in which the courtship behaviour of one species might be used to determine which of the other 2 species are most closely related to it.
The courtship display that most closely resembles that of the first species is likely to be the closest relative.
Define species richness
The number of different species in a community.