Biodiversity

Question 1

Biodiversity

Answer 1

describes the great variety of life that exists in our biosphere. Defined at 3 levels

1)Level of species (morphologically similar organisms that are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring).

2)Ecosystems: organisms living in complex communities and a range of different physical environments

3)Genetic diversity: number of genes, which code for all inherited traits

Question 2

Biodiversity Hotspots

Answer 2

regions with numerous native species and a large number of endangered and threatened species.

Question 3

To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot an area must

Answer 3

1)Contain at least 1500 species of native vascular plants

2)Have lots at least 70% of primary vegetation

Question 4

Spatial Scales

Answer 4

Spatial refers to the space being occupied by an organism

Question 5

Temporal (time) Scales

Answer 5

Temporal patterns are studies to provide details about biodiversity in a certain area over a certain time period.

Question 6

Species

Answer 6

A species is a group of organisms who can interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring

Question 7

Biological Species Concept

Answer 7

a group of organisms that share a gene pool; all members of the same species have the capacity to interbreed to produce fertile offspring as long as they are not prevented by any physical barrier

Question 8

Morphological species concept

Answer 8

characterises a species by its form

Question 9

Phylogenetic species concept

Answer 9

identifies a species as being the smallest group of organisms who can all trace their origins to a single common ancestor

Question 10

Ecosystem

Answer 10

an area in which biotic and abiotic factors interact with each other

Question 11

Genetic diversity

Answer 11

The vast amount of alleles in a gene pool