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Biology > Biodiversity, classification and evolution > Flashcards

Biodiversity, classification and evolution Flashcards

1
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

Variety of living organisms in an area, can be measured in terms of species diversity, habitat diversity and genetic diversity

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2
Q

Differentiate between species richness and species evenness?

A

species richness = number of species in an area

species evenness = whether species have similar numbers

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3
Q

Discuss different types of sampling?

A

random =no particular system however aims to still be representative

opportunistic = those encountered first are chosen

stratified = population divided into smaller groups based on characteristics then sampled

systematic = follows a particular pattern

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4
Q

Why is sampling important?

A

We can’t study the whole population as it’s impractical, using a representative sample allows us to easily investigate the population

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5
Q

Describe how simpson’s index of diversity is used?

A
  • measurement of the total number of organisms compared to the total number of organisms of each species
  • high index of diversity means several different species are equally abundant
  • low index means one or two species dominate others
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6
Q

How can we assess genetic diversity?

A

proportion of polymorphic gene loci = number of polymorphic gene loci ÷ total number of loci

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7
Q

Give factors that affect biodiversity?

A
  • population growth
  • deforestation for agriculture
  • climate change affecting habitats
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8
Q

Give reasons to maintain biodiversity?

A

ecological = protecting species + maintaining resources

economic = reducing soil depletion

aesthetic = protecting landscapes

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9
Q

Define conservation?

A

Protection and management of species and habitats in order to maintain biodiversity

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10
Q

What are 2 types of conservation?

A
  • in situ (in organisms habitat)
  • ex situ (out of organisms habitat)
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11
Q

Give examples of in-situ conservation?

A
  • marine conservation zones
  • wildlife reserves
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12
Q

Give examples of ex-situ conservation?

A
  • seed banks
  • botanic gardens
  • zoos
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13
Q

Give some agreements made with the aim of protecting species and habitats?

A
  • conservation of international trade in endangered species (CITES)
  • rio convention on biological diversity (CBD)
  • countryside stewardship scheme (CSS)
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14
Q

Define classification?

A

Process of naming and organising organisms into groups based on their characteristics

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15
Q

Name the 8 groups in the classification hierarchy from largest to smallest?

A
  • domain
  • kingdom
  • phylum
  • class
  • order
  • family
  • genus
  • species
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16
Q

What are two components to a binomial name?

A

generic name = the genus the organism belongs too

specific name = the species the organism belongs too

17
Q

What is the advantage of the binomial naming system?

A

It is universal, an organisms binomial name is the same everywhere in the world

18
Q

Name the 5 kingdoms and 3 domains?

A

kingdoms:
- prokaryote
- protoctista
- fungi
- plantae
- anamalia

Domains:
- bacteria
- archaea
- eukaryota

19
Q

How are organisms classified into a kingdom?

A

Based on similarities in observable characteristics

20
Q

How the domain system of classification developed?

A

By analysing molecular differences between organisms to determine their evolutionary relationships (phylogeny)

21
Q

What is the difference between classification and phylogeny?

A
  • classification is simple sorting organisms into groups
  • phylogeny investigates the evolutionary relationships between organisms
22
Q

Explain how natural selection results in evolution?

A
  • ransom mutations result in new alleles
  • some alleles provide an advantage against selection pressures making an individual more likely to survive and reproduce
  • their offspring receive the new allele and are said to have ‘evolved’ a new characteristic
23
Q

How did Darwin and Wallace contribute to the theory of evolution?

A
  • observed birds have many different beak shapes
  • concluded birds with beak shapes most suited to the food they eat are more likely to survive
  • therefore they pass their beak shape on to their offspring
24
Q

Give other evidence for the theory of evolution?

A

fossils = allow us to compare extinct organisms to today’s organisms

genomic DNA = sequencing of genomes have shown how closely related we are to primates

molecular = proteins are composed of the same 20 amino acids in all organisms

25
Q

What causes variation?

A

genetic = mutations, random fertalisation, etc

environmental = climate, diet, culture, etc

26
Q

Differentiate between intraspecific and interspecific variation?

A

Intraspecific = variation within the same species

Interspecific = variation between different species

27
Q

Differentiate between continuous and dis-continuous variation?

A

Continuous = variation exists as gradual changes over a range (e.g height + root length)

Dis-continuous = variation exists as distinct categories (e.g blood group + bacteria shape)

28
Q

Why might we calculate a Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient?

A

To measure correlation between 2 variables, e.g the extent to which changing one variable affects the other variable

29
Q

Explain how Spearman’s rank results are interpreted?

A

Closer to 1 = more positive correlation
Closer to -1 = more negative correlation
Around 0 = no correlation

30
Q

What are 3 types of adaption and give an example of each?

A
  • anatomical = changes to body structure (e.g oily fur)
  • physiological = changes to bodily processes (e.g producing venom)
  • behavioural = changes to actions (e.g hibernation)
31
Q

Why might organisms from different taxonomic groups have similar features?

A

Marsupial moles and placental moles live in different continents, but share anatomical features because their adapted to similar environments

32
Q

Give some implications of evolution for humans?

A
  • bacterial antibiotic resistance means infections are harder to treat
  • pesticide resistance means entire crops could be destroyed

Biology (22 decks)

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