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APES Unit 2 - Biodiversity Flashcards

1
Q

Adaptation

A

Any inherited trait (physical or behavioral) that increases an organism’s ability to survive and/or reproduce.

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2
Q

Biodiversity hotspot

A

An area that has an exceptionally high amount of different species and is prioritized by conservationists for preservation.

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3
Q

Bottleneck effect

A

A reduction in the genetic diversity of a population caused by a sudden reduction in the population size.

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4
Q

Camouflage

A

The ability of an organism to blend into its surroundings.

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5
Q

Climax community

A

A stable, mature community that occurs at the “end” of succession.

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6
Q

Cultural services

A

Aesthetic, spiritual, or recreational benefits from nature. (Tourism)

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7
Q

Disturbance

A

Any event that results in changes in an ecosystem.

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8
Q

Ecological tolerance

A

The range of conditions in which a species can survive.

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9
Q

Ecosystem diversity

A

Variety of habitats within an area.

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10
Q

Ecosystem services

A

Benefits provided to humans by the natural world.

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11
Q

Endemic species

A

Organisms that are native to and only found in one area.

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12
Q

Episodic

A

Occurring at irregular intervals.

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13
Q

Evolution

A

The gradual change in a species over time.

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14
Q

Extirpation

A

“Localized extinction” where all of a species disappears from a certain area only.

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15
Q

Genetic diversity

A

The variety of DNA within populations in an area.

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16
Q

Geographic isolation

A

Physical separation of individuals in a population that can lead to an accumulation of genetic differences between the groups.

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17
Q

Geological time

A

Periods, epochs, and eras of millions of years used to study change in the earth over its entire history.

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18
Q

Indicator species

A

Organisms that by their presence or abundance provide information about the health of an eviornment.

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19
Q

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

A

The concept that moderate levels of disturbance can foster greater species diversity than low or high levels of disturbance.

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20
Q

Island Biogeography

A

Proposes that the number of species found on an undisturbed island is determined by colonization and extinction rates; highest biodiversity will be on a larger size island that is closer to the mainland.

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21
Q

Keystone species

A

Organisms that have an unusually large impact on the ecosystem; not necessarily the most abundant organisms in the ecosystem.

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22
Q

Lichen

A

Symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic organism that is able to grow on bare rock and act as a pioneer species.

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23
Q

Migration

A

Movement of organisms from one are to another, typically seasonally.

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24
Q

Mimicry

A

Ability of an organism to look like another organism.

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25
Mutation
Any change in DNA that might have a positive, negative, or no effect.
26
Natural selection
The principle that since not all organisms will survive and reproduce, those that are well-suited to their environment will be most likely to survive and pass on their genes.
27
Opportunistic species
Species that can quickly inhabit a new area and take advantage of new resources.
28
Periodic
Occurring at regular, fixed intervals.
29
pH
The measure of how acidic or basic something is, obtained by measuring the concentration of hydrogen ions.
30
pH scale
Measurement of 0-14 with smaller numbers being more acidic and larger numbers being more basic/alkaline.
31
Phylogeny
The evolutionary history of a group of species showing how they are related.
32
Pioneer species
The first species to populate an area during the process of succession.
33
Primary succession
Series of change in an environment that does not have any living organisms or soil present.
34
Provisioning services
Products that are obtained from nature, such as food or lumber.
35
Random
Occurring with no pattern whatsoever.
36
Regulating services
Ways that nature controls the environment to maintain conditions, such as climate or water quality.
37
Salinity
Measure of amount of salts dissolved in water.
38
Secondary succession
Series of changes that occur in an ecosystem that has been disrupted but still has soil and living organisms present.
39
Speciation
The formation of a new species.
40
Species diversity
The variety of different kinds of organisms in a community.
41
Species evenness
The relative abundance of different species in a community; the proportions of each.
42
Species richness
The number of different species present in a community.
43
Succession
A series of predictable change occurring in an area after is has been disturbed.
44
Supporting services
Benefits from nature that allow us to live, such as nutrient cycling and soil formation.
45
Background extinction
Normal rate of extinction of various species as a result of changes in local environmental conditions.
46
Biodiversity
The variety of life in an ecosystem.
47
Captive breeding
The mating of animals in zoos or wildlife preserves.
48
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
1973 treaty facilitated by the United Nations that protects endangered species by banning the international transport of their body parts.
49
Edge effects
Different environmental conditions that occur along the boundaries of two ecosystems.
50
Endangered species
A species whose numbers are so small that the species is at risk of extinction.
51
Endangered Species Act
1973 law that identifies threatened and endangered species in the US, and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations.
52
Extinction
When a species no longer has any known living individuals.
53
Fitness
Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.
54
Generalist species
Organisms with a broad ecological niche, meaning they can live in many different places, eat a variety of foods, and tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions.
55
Habitat corridors
Natural strips of land that allow the migration of organisms from one wilderness to another.
56
Habitat fragmentation
Breakup of a habitat into smaller separated pieces such as by roads or canals.
57
HIPPCO
Acronym for the main causes of decreasing biodiversity: habitat destruction, invasive species, population growth, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation.
58
Invasive species
A species that enters a new ecosystem and multiplies, harming native species and their habitats.
59
Mass extinction
An event during which many species die out during a relatively short period of time.
60
Native species
Species that normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem.
61
Non-native species
A species not naturally found in an area.
62
Overexploitation
Practice of harvesting or hunting to such a degree that remaining individuals may not be able to replenish the population.
63
Poaching
Illegal killing or removal of wildlife from their habitats.
64
r-selected species
A species that has a high intrinsic growth rate, reproduces many offspring early in life, and has a short life span.
65
Sea level
The average level of the ocean's surface at any given time.
66
Selective pressure
Environmental conditions that make it harder for an organism to survive and reproduce.
67
Threatened species
A species that could become endangered in the near future.
68
K-selected species
Species that produce a few, often fairly large offspring but invest a great deal of time and energy to ensure that most of those offspring reach reproductive age.
69
Habitat
the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
70
Specialist species
Organisms with a narrow ecological niche- they can only live in one place, eat few foods, and tolerate a narrow range of environmental conditions.

APES Flashcards (6 decks)

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