Biodiversity

Question 1

define species

Answer 1

a group of similar organisms which can interbreed to produce living, fertile offspring and occupy the same ecological niche

Question 2

what is the binomial system?

Answer 2

name given to an animal consisting of the name of its genus and species

Question 3

give the 3 features of the binomial system

Answer 3

1. Generic (genus) name = has capital letter
2. Specific (species) name = lower case
3. written in italics

Question 4

name at 4 reasons why courtship is important

Answer 4

1. allow to recognise own species
2. identify if mate capable of breeding (receptive)
3. form a pair bond (successful mating/raising of young)
4. synchronise mating (max. probability of sperm meeting ovum)

Question 5

how does courtship allow animals to recognise own species?

Answer 5

specific chain of actions between a male + female (same for same species)

Question 6

name the 2 forms of biological classification and which one do we use today?

Answer 6

• artificial classification

- phylogenetic classification (we use this one)

Question 7

what is artificial classification? and why is it not used?

Answer 7

organisms classified according to analogous characteristics

- analogous: same function but have different evolutionary origins

Question 8

what is phylogenetic classification?

Answer 8

• based on evolutionary relationships between organisms and ancestors (similar DNA/homologous features)
• is a hierarchy where smaller groups are placed within larger composite groups. DON’T OVERLAP

Question 9

what is the name given to the groups in phylogenetic classification?

Answer 9

taxon

Question 10

Which is the highest taxonomic rank?

Answer 10

Domain

Question 11

name the 3 domains

Answer 11

1. Bacteria: single celled prokaryotes
2. Archaea: singled celled prokaryotes. Does not have meurin in cell walls
3. Eukarya: group of organisms made up of one or more eukaryotic cells

Question 12

name the taxonomic ranks in order

Answer 12

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 13

eukarya domain is split into 4 kingdoms, what are they?

Answer 13

animalia, plantae, protoctista, fungi

Question 14

what is polygeny?

Answer 14

the evolutionary relationship between organisms

Question 15

define ecosystem diversity

Answer 15

range of habitats from a small local habitat to the Earth.

Question 16

define species richness

Answer 16

measure of the number of different species in a community.

Question 17

define species diversity

Answer 17

no. of different species + no. of individuals of those species within a community (takes account relative abundance)

Question 18

define genetic diversity

Answer 18

differences in the DNA/genes by individuals of a species

Question 19

define biodiversity

Answer 19

no. + variety of living organisms in a particular area

Question 20

what is the formula for species diversity? and what is it called?

Answer 20

Simpson’s Diversity Index

d = N (N-1) / Σn (n-1)

Question 21

what does the letters mean in the diversity index?

Answer 21

d = diversity index 
N = total no. of organisms of all species 
n = total no. of organisms in each species 
Σ = sum of

Question 22

Farming techniques _______ biodiversity

Answer 22

reduce

Question 23

name 3 practices that directly remove habitat/reduce diversity in farming

Answer 23

removal of hedgerows, draining marshlands, creating monocultures, overgrazing of land

Question 24

name 3 farming practices that indirectly reduce biodiversity

Answer 24

using pesticides, leaching of effluent into waterways, absences of crop rotation/intercropping or undersowing

Question 25

name 5 conservation techniques that could be used on a farm

Answer 25

1. maintaining hedgerows, 2. maintain/create ponds 3. use biological control 4. use organic fertilisers 5. use crop rotation with nitrogen fixing crop

Question 26

The Department for __________, Food and Rural Affairs give ______ incentives to farmers.

Answer 26

Environment, financial

Question 27

define interspecific competition

Answer 27

competition between organisms of different species

Question 28

define interspecific variation

Answer 28

differences between organisms of different species

Question 29

define intraspecific competition

Answer 29

competition between organisms of the same species

Question 30

define intraspecific variation

Answer 30

differences between organisms of the same species

Question 31

Genetic diversity within, or between species, can be made by comparing what 5 things?

Answer 31

- the frequency of measurable or observable characteristics - the base sequence of DNA - the base sequence of mRNA - the amino acid sequence of the proteins encoded by DNA and mRNA. - immunological comparison of proteins

Question 32

explain how comparing observable characteristics work

Answer 32

- based on the fact that characteristics are determined by gene(s) - the variety within characteristic depends on no./ variety of alleles of that gene + environmental influences

Question 33

name the limitations of comparing observable characteristics

Answer 33

- can be coded by more than one gene (polygenic) | - characteristics due to different environments not alleles

Question 34

explain how comparing DNA base sequences works

Answer 34

- sequencing DNA (each base has specific colour, produces different coloured band) - more closely related = more similarity in DNA base sequence

Question 35

explain how comparing mRNA base sequences works

Answer 35

- mRNA coded by DNA, mRNA bases complementary to DNA | - so can compare genetic diversity based on sequence

Question 36

explain how comparing amino acids in proteins works

Answer 36

- sequence of amino acids determined by sequences of mRNA and DNA - the more similar amino acid sequence in same protein in 2 different species = indicates relation

Question 37

explain how the immunological comparisons are used to investigate variations in proteins

Answer 37

the principle: antibodies of one species will respond to specific antigens on proteins, i.e. such as albumin - the higher the precipitate, the more related

Question 38

gene technology has caused change in the methods of investigating genetics diversity. Changed from observable characteristics to.....

Answer 38

direct investigation of DNA sequences

Question 39

define sampling bias

Answer 39

selection process may be biased (either done unknowingly or deliberately)

Question 40

define chance

Answer 40

even if sampling bias is avoided, by some individuals by chance may not be representative

Question 41

what is the best way to eliminate bias?

Answer 41

use random sampling (large sample size and analyse results using stat tests)

Question 42

what is the normal shape of the distribution curve?

Answer 42

bell shaped, symmetrical about a central

Question 43

on a normal distribution curve what shows the mean?

Answer 43

the max. height of the curve

Question 44

where is s.d. on a graph?

Answer 44

the width of the curve (range of values)

Question 45

why do we use s.d.? (4 reasons)

Answer 45

1. shows the spread of all measurements about the mean 2. includes all measurements (range doesn't) 3. reduces influences of extreme values 4. allows for stat tests

Question 46

if the s.d. don't overlap then.....

Answer 46

there is a statistically significant difference between the means of the data and so highly unlikely to be due to chance

Question 47

if the error bars overlap then...

Answer 47

there is no significant difference between the means of the data and so it is a high probability it is due to chance

Question 48

what % of values are within 1 s.d. of the mean?

Answer 48

65%

Question 49

what % of values are within 2 s.d. of the mean?

Answer 49

95%

Question 50

what % of values are within 3 s.d. of the mean?

Answer 50

99%