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biology > Biodiversity > Flashcards

Biodiversity Flashcards

1
Q

Define habitat

A

Place where a community of organisms normally lives

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2
Q

Define community

A

All populations of different organisms interacting at a particular place at the same time

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3
Q

Define ecosystem

A

All living and non-living components in an area

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4
Q

Define biodiversity

A

Number and variety of organisms in an area

Range and variety of genes, species and habitats in a particular area

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5
Q

Define species diversity

A

Number of different species and number of individuals of each species in a community

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6
Q

Define genetic diversity

A

Different genes possessed by individuals of the same species

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7
Q

Define ecosystem diversity

A

Number a different hábitats in an area

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8
Q

What types of diversity sre there

A

Species
Genetic
Ecosystem
Bio

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9
Q

What do individuals of the Same species have in common

A

Both occupy same ecological niche
Breed to produce fertile offspring
They are similar

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10
Q

What is the system of naming organisms called

A

Binomial system

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11
Q

Describe the binomial system

A

Given generic name (genus) and specific name (species)

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12
Q

How do you name an organism if you don’t know its species but do know its genus

A

Name genus and then add sp.

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13
Q

Why is the binomial system used

A

Prevent confusion and allows a universal language to be used

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14
Q

How do similar courtship behaviours indicate two organisms are genetically similar

A

Courtship behaviours are determined by genes and show similar biochemical and physical processes

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15
Q

How does courtship behaviour allow for successful mating?

A

Allows recognition and identification of organism of same species

Allows bond pair to form (raise offspring)

Indicates sexual maturity and fitness

Allows synchronisation of mating (egg and sperm more likely to meet)

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16
Q

Define classification

A

Grouping of organisms

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17
Q

Why is classification important

A

Allows clarity and better communication

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18
Q

Define taxonomy

A

Theory and practise of classification

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19
Q

What are the two types of classification

A

Artificial and phylogenetic

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20
Q

Describe artificial classification

A

Based on physical, convinient features.

Features of same function but different evolutionary origins (analogous characteristics)

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21
Q

Describe phylogenetic classification

A

Using evolutionary relationships

Using homologous features determined by genes passed on by ancestors (same evolutionary origin despite function)

Uses hierarchy

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22
Q

Name the taxonomic ranks (taxa)

A 
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
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23
Q

Name the domains in phylogenetic classification

A

Archea
Bacteria
Eukarya

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24
Q

Describe the bacterial domain

A 
70s ribosomes
No histones
No membrane bound organelles
Murein cell walls
Circular DNA
Unicellular
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25
Q

Describe the archea domain

A

70s ribosomes
Genes and protein Synthesis more similar to eukaryota
No Murein in cell walls
More complex RNA polymerase compared to bacteria
Ether links in lipids
Unicellular prokaryotes

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26
Q

Describe the eukaryotic domain

A 
No Murein in cell wall if present
Histones bound to DNA
Membrane bound organelles
80s ribosomes 
Ester links in lipids 
Multicellular
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27
Q

Define phylogeny

A

Classification of organisms based on evolutionary relationships

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28
Q

How is phylogeny usually depicted

A

Using a phylogenetic tree

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29
Q

What evidence is used in a phylogenetic tree

A 
Fossil records
DNA
Homologous structures
Karyotype
Anatomy
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30
Q

Define Karyotype

A

Shape and number of chromosomes

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31
Q

What are the two ways of measuring diversity

A

Species richness and diversity index

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32
Q

What is used to calculate the diversity of a community using no of species and individuals

A

Simpson diversity index

33
Q

Why is the diversity index better than species richness

A

Takes into account how many individuals there are of each species

Takes into account dominant species

Provides quantitative data

34
Q

What does a diversity index of 1 indicate

A

No diversity

35
Q

Compare the biodiversity of a harsh and a less harsh environment

A

Harsh= low biodiversity, less stable and dominated by climatic factors

Less harsh= high biodiversity, stable and dominated by organisms

36
Q

What is meant by dominated by climatic factors

A

Climate has a greater effect on the ecosystem than organisms do

37
Q

What are the two types of ecosystem. Give characteristics

A

Natural= high BD mad complex

Agricultural = one main crop and low BD

38
Q

Describe an agricultural ecosystem

A

Pesticides are used which reduces presence of species able to outcompete the crop

Plants compete for resources such as mineral ions and water

Reduced gene pool as all have desired characteristics (profitable)

39
Q

What is a monoculture

A

When all crops grown are of Same variety

40
Q

How has food production been increased

A

Use of pesticides and fertilisers

Increased use of biotechnology

Better farming practises

Monoculture

Larger farms

41
Q

How is biodiversity reduced

A 
Use of pesticides
Removal of hedgerows
Monoculture
Filling in ponds
Overgrazing
No intercropping or crop rotation with nitrogen fixing crops
Escape of silage
42
Q

What methods of conservation are there

A 
A shaped hedgerows
Cut verges after flowering
Don't drain fields
Intercropping instead of herbicides 
Crop rotation with nitrogen fixing crops
Use organic fertilisers
Plant trees in areas of low BD
Create ponds
Use GM instead of pesticides
Create natural meadows and use Hay not grass for silage
Produce conservation headlands
43
Q

Why are hedgerows so important

A 
Prevent soil erosion
Provide wide break
Provide shelter from predators
Diverse habitat
Shade and food
44
Q

Why are rains forests so diverse

A

Large range of plant species = more variety of food and more habitats

45
Q

Why does deforestation occur

A 
Acid rain
Cattle
Houses
Road making
Crops
Oil and mining
46
Q

What are the consequences of deforestation

A

Soil erosion
Land slides
Low BD
Global warming

47
Q

Why should we conserve the rainforest

A

May contain medicine we haven’t discovered

Regulate climate

48
Q

How is diversity observed within a species

A

Differences in observable characteristics

49
Q

What causes diversity within a species

A

Genetic variation and environmental influences

50
Q

Why are observable differences in a specific characteristic not always the best way to determine genetic difference

A

Many characteristics are polygenic and environmental factors will play a role

51
Q

Define polygenic

A

A characteristic that is determined by multiple genes

52
Q

What are the different ways of investigating diversity

A 
Observable characteristics
DNA base sequences
MRNA base sequence
Amino acid sequence
Immunological proteins
53
Q

How are genes compared using DNA base sequencing

A

DNA extracted
Gene isolated
Sequenced and compared

54
Q

Why do two species have different DNA base sequences of the same gene

A

Before speciation they had the same bases
Overtime mutations to gene accumulate
Eventually they are very different

55
Q

Why can the Amino acid sequence of a particular protein be used to investigate diversity

A

Proteins are coded for by bases on DNA so similar proteins = similar DNA

56
Q

Why is DNA base sequencing more reliable than comparing amino acid sequences

A

DNA is degenerate so same Amino acid may be coded for by multiple triplets.

So may be wide variation in possible base sequences of gene

57
Q

Why can Immunological comparison be used to investigate diversity

A

Antidodies are coded for by DNA (they are proteins) and have specific shape depending on DNA.

Similar genes =similar 3D structure = antigen antibody complex forms

58
Q

Describe how Immunological comparisons are made

A

You want to compare species A and C

Extract albumin of A and place in Species B.

Species B will produce antibodies to proteins in A.

Collect antibodies and purify and add to blood of C.

Antigen antibody complexes will form.

More similar genes = more similar 3D shape of antigens = more complexes= more precipitate

59
Q

What is albumin

A

Soluble proteins extracted from blood

60
Q

Define interspecific variation

A

Variation between individuals of different species

61
Q

Define intraspecific variation

A

Variation between individuals of same species

62
Q

Explain the difference between population and sample

A

Population = all members

Sample= smaller group within population that is representative

63
Q

Define random sampling

A

Picking a sample from a population without bias

64
Q

Suggest how you can take a random sample

A

Divide up an area into atleast 10 quadrats and use a random number generator to choose 5 coordinates.

Choose all organisms in quadrat

65
Q

Why might a sample not be representative

A

Sampling bias

Chance

66
Q

How can chance be minimised

A

Use a large sample size

Data analysis (determine whether comparison is due to chance)

Repeats and means

67
Q

How can bias be minimised

A

Use random sampling

68
Q

Why does having a large sample size solve the problem of chance

A

Reduces the effect of anomalies

69
Q

Describe the shape of normal Distribution

A

Bell shaped

Varies in max height and width

Mean=median= mode

Data is spread evenly around mean

70
Q

What is the advantages and disadvantages of using the mean

A

Takes into account all values

Doesn’t show range

71
Q

What is the advantages and disadvantages of standard deviation

A

Takes into account all data

Shows how spread around mean

Reduces influence of extremes

72
Q

What can we use the SD for

A

To determine how statistically significant the deference between two variable is

To determine how reliable the mean is

73
Q

What % of data is within 1 SD in normal Distribution

A

68%

74
Q

What % of data is within 2 SD in normal Distribution

A

95

75
Q

What % of data is within 3 SD in normal Distribution

A

98

76
Q

What’s the difference between range and error bars

A

Range bars are not symmetrical and span from highest to lowest value

Error bars are symmetrical and range from +1 SD and - 1 SD, doesn’t take into account extremes

77
Q

What is SRCC

A

A measure to determine how correlated two variables are

78
Q

What is the student t test

A

A measure to compare means

79
Q

What is the chi squared test

A

Measure to compare sample to expected

biology (28 decks)

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