Biodiversity Flashcards
Year 1 (TB2)
1
Q
Define Genetic Diversity
A
Variation within species
2
Q
Define Species Diversity
A
Variety of species within ecosystems
3
Q
Define Ecosystem Diversity
A
Range of habitats, communities, and ecological processes
4
Q
How does Biodiversity Increases?
A
When genetic variation is created, new species emerge, or new ecosystems form.
5
Q
How does Biodiversity decreases?
A
When genetic variation diminishes, species become extinct, or ecosystems are lost.
6
Q
What are the 3 different levels of Biodiveristy?
A
- Genetic diversity
- Species diversity
- Ecosystem diversity
7
Q
Why is Genetic Diversity Important?
A
- Adaptation
- Resilience
- Evolution
8
Q
Why is adaptation Important? - GDiversity
A
Higher genetic diversity allows species to better adapt to changing environments.
9
Q
Why is Resilience Important? - GDiversity
A
It provides a buffer against threats such as diseases or environmental changes.
10
Q
Why is Evolution Important? - GDiversity
A
Genetic diversity is the raw material for evolution, enabling species to develop new traits over time.
11
Q
What does a low genetic diversity mean and what happens?
A
Often referred to as a genetic bottleneck, can threaten the survival of a species in changing environments.
12
Q
Why is species diversity hard to measure?
A
- Cryptic species - Some species may look identical but be genetically distinct.
- Accessibility - Certain organisms are difficult to find or count.
- Species definition - The biological species concept defines a species as “a group of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations which are reproductively isolated from other such groups”.
13
Q
In practice how are species identified?
A
Through a combination of morphological and genetic characteristics.
14
Q
How do ecosystem engineers significantly influence ecosystem diversity?
A
- Modifying physical structures
- Creating new niches for other species
- Altering resource availability
15
Q
What can the removal of keystone species lead to?
A
- Significant shifts in community composition
- Changes in the physical structure of the environment
- Cascading effects throughout the food web
16
Q
How does higher levels of both species and genetic diversity lead to greater ecosystem stability in a complex ecosystems?
A
- Increased resilience to disturbances
- More efficient resource utilization
- Enhanced ecosystem functions and services
17
Q
What happens in a less complex ecosystems?
A
Often dominated by fewer species, which can lead to the emergence of pests and require more resource input for management. Reducing the risk of population bottlenecks.
18
Q
The diversity of species within an ecosystem influences its overall function and stability through?
A
- Trophic interactions (predator-prey relationships, symbioses)
- Nutrient cycling and energy flow
- Pollination and seed dispersal
19
Q
What are the 2 major groups of living organisms?
A
- Prokaryotes
- Eukaryotes
20
Q
State the 2 subgroups in Prokaryotes?
A
- Archaea
- Bacteria
21
Q
State the 4 subgroups in Eukaryotes?
A
- Protists
- Fungi
- Plants
- Animals
22
Q
What are the general characteristics of Porkaryotes?
A
- Cell Structure - Simple cells with a single circular chromosome. They lack organelles like mitochondria or chloroplasts.
- Cell Walls - Bacteria have cell walls containing peptidoglycan (absent in Archaea). This feature is targeted by many antibiotics.
- Shapes - Common shapes include spheres (cocci), rods (bacilli), and spirals (spirilla). They can exist as single cells or in chains/clusters.
23
Q
Where can you find Archaea?
A
Often found in extreme environments like hot springs and salt lake.
24
Q
Groups found in plants are?
A
- Algae
- Bryophytes
- Vascular Plants:
- Gymnosperms
- Angiosperms
25
Describe Algae? - Plants
Aquatic photosynthetic organisms, including green algae (closely related to land plants).
26
Describe Bryophytes? - Plants
Non-vascular plants like mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. They are small and restricted to moist habitats.
27
Describe Vascular Plants? - Plants
Ferns: Seedless vascular plants.
28
Describe Gymnosperms? - Plants
Plants with "naked" seeds (e.g., conifers).
29
Describe Angiosperms? - Plants
Flowering plants with seeds enclosed in fruit; they dominate modern ecosystems and are essential for agriculture.
30
Characteristics of a fungi?
1. Cell walls contain chitin.
2. Bodies consist of hyphae (branching filaments) that form a mycelium.
31
Life Strategies of a fungi?
1. Saprobes: Decompose dead organic material.
2. Parasites: Infect plants, animals, or humans (e.g., Candida albicans, ringworm).
3. Predators: Trap prey like nematodes using specialized structures.
4. Mutualists: Form symbiotic relationships (e.g., lichens with algae or cyanobacteria).
32
Name the 2 human uses of fungi
1. Medicine
2. Food Production
33
State the major groups in animals?
1. Non-Bilaterian Metazoan
2. Bilateria Protostomes
3. Bilateria Deuterostomes
34
3 Examples of Non-Bilaterian Metazoan?
1. Sponges (Porifera): Filter feeders without organs.
2. Comb jellies (Ctenophora): Marine predators with rows of cilia for movement.
3. Cnidarians: Include jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones; possess stinging cells (cnidocytes).
35
Describe Bilateria Protostomes?
First embryonic opening forms the mouth.
Includes Spiralia (e.g., molluscs like snails and squids; annelids like earthworms) and Ecdysozoa (e.g., arthropods like insects; nematodes).
36
Describe Bilateria Deuterostomes?
First embryonic opening forms the anus.
Includes echinoderms (e.g., sea stars) and chordates (e.g., vertebrates like mammals).
37
State the benefits of Biodiveristy?
1. Ecosystems Processes and Services
2. Bioresources
3. Aesthetic and Recreational Value
38
What are the benefits of Ecosystem Processes and Services?
1. Oxygen Production & Carbon Sequestration
2. Water and Nutrient Cycling
3. Natural Pest and Disease Control
4. Decomposition and Soil Fertility
5. Pollination
39
Why is Oxygen Production and Carbon Sequestration beneficial?
Plants, algae, and other photosynthetic organisms produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, helping regulate atmospheric composition and mitigate climate change.
40
Why is Water and Nutrient Cycling beneficial?
Biodiversity ensures the cycling of essential nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus) and water through ecosystems, maintaining soil fertility and water availability.
41
Why is Natural Pest and Disease Control beneficial?
Diverse ecosystems often include predators or competitors that naturally regulate pest populations and reduce the spread of diseases.
42
Why is Decomposition and Soil Fertility beneficial?
Decomposers like fungi, bacteria, and detritivores break down organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil for plant growth.
43
Why is Pollination beneficial?
Many plants rely on pollinators (e.g., bees, birds, bats) for reproduction. This service is crucial for food production.
44
What are the benefits of Bioresources?
1. Food
2. Fibres and Timber
3. Medicines
4. Genetic Resources
5. Waste Management
45
How is food beneficial?
Nearly all food comes from biodiversity, including crops, livestock, fish, and wild plants.
46
How is Fibre and Timber beneficial?
Natural materials like wood, cotton, wool, and silk are derived from biodiversity.
47
How is Medicine beneficial?
Around 50% of modern medicines are derived from living organisms. For example:
Penicillin from fungi
Anticancer drugs like paclitaxel from yew trees
48
How is Genetic Resources beneficial?
Genetic diversity is used to improve crop qualities such as resistance to pests, diseases, droughts, or to increase yields. This is critical for food security in changing climates.
49
How is Waste Management beneficial?
Organisms like bacteria help treat sewage and even break down synthetic materials like plastics.
50
What are the benefits of Aesthetic and Recreational Value?
1. Ecotourism
2. Recreational Activities
3. Cultural Importance
4. Pets and Zoos
51
How is Ecotourism beneficial?
Many people travel to experience biodiversity-rich areas such as coral reefs, rainforests, or savannas.
52
How is Recreational Activities beneficial?
Activities like birdwatching, hiking, diving, or fishing depend on healthy ecosystems.
53
How is Cultural Importance beneficial?
Many cultures derive spiritual or traditional value from biodiversity (e.g., sacred groves or animals).
54
How is Pets and Zoos beneficial?
Biodiversity also contributes to human well-being by providing pets or opportunities to observe wildlife in zoos or reserves.
55
What are the Threats to Biodiveristy?
1. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
2. Introduced Species
3. Over-Harvesting
4. Global and Regional Changes
56
How is Habitat Loss and Fragmentation a threat to Biodiversity?
They are primary drivers of biodiversity decline, caused by:
1. Agricultural expansion
2. Urban development
3. Deforestation
4. Mining activities
5. Pollution (e.g., eutrophication, pesticides, sewage)
These activities destroy or alter natural habitats, reducing available space for species and disrupting ecosystem functions.
57
How is Introduced Species a threat to Biodiversity?
Non-native species introduced to new environments can:
1. Outcompete native species for resources
2. Disrupt local ecosystems
3. Cause local extinctions
58
How is Over-Harvesting a threat to Biodiversity?
Unsustainable exploitation of wild organisms severely impacts biodiversity:
1. Species with low reproductive rates (e.g., elephants, whales) are particularly vulnerable
2. Overfishing has depleted many fish stocks, such as bluefin tuna
59
How is Global and Regional Changes a Threat to Biodiversity?
Environmental changes on a larger scale threaten biodiversity:
1. Atmospheric pollution (CO2, SO2, NOx, O2)
2. Water pollution (PCBs, toxins, plastics)
3. Climate change
60
Why is climate change particularly concerning?
1. Alters species distributions and ranges
2. Threatens species with poor dispersal abilities
3. Affects global ecology, including food production and disease spread
61
Define Richness?
Number of Types (species, genes and ecosystems)
62
Define Relative Abundance?
Number of individuals of each type ("evenness").
63
Define Diversity?
Richness and abundance of types
