Biodiversity and Taxonomy - Lecture 1

Question 1

What is the difference between Microevolution and Macroevolution?

Answer 1

Microevolution is over a period of days/decades. Difficult to study using fossils. Macroevolution occurs over millions of years. Most of this can be studied using fossils.

Question 2

How do we investigate the history of life?

Answer 2

Biological systematics - relationship among different forms of organisms through time. Taxonomy - name and order of organisms in a taxonomic hierarchy.

Question 3

Name the taxonomic hierarchy

Answer 3

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

Question 4

Name two ways we can identify species

Answer 4

DNA and Morphology

Question 5

Define taxonomic biodiversity

Answer 5

Total number of species alive at any one time: In a community, in a wider biogeographical region or globally.

Question 6

Why is species the only natural taxonomic unit?

Answer 6

They can breed to produce fertile offspiring