Biodiversity lesson 1: introduction

Question 1

what are the (6) characteristics of life?

“living things…” at the beginning

Answer 1

1. organised systems made up of one or more cells
2. metabolize matter and energy
3. interact with eachother
4. reproduce themselves
5. grow and develop
6. adapt to thier surroundings

Question 2

what is biodiversity?

Answer 2

variety of things (species) in a given area

Question 3

how many of the 5-30 million organisms are classified?

Answer 3

1.5 billion

Question 4

define species

Answer 4

a reproductive community of populations that occupies a specific niche as it is reproductively isolated from other species because of their genetic integrity (share DNA with eachother not other species)

Question 5

problems of species

there are 3 of them

Answer 5

1. hybrids
2. wide phenotypic variation
3. Ring species

Question 6

Hybrids

(definition) + (problem)

Answer 6

large number of species can interbreed creating a sterile hybrid or a “temporarily” viable hybrid
ex. mules , roses and finches

Question 7

Wide phenotypic variation

(problem)

Answer 7

some species have a wide range of phenotypes –> difficult to determine initially that they share a common gene pool

Question 8

define Ring species

Answer 8

ring of populations in which there is only one place where 2 distinct species meet

Question 9

Ring Species (at one location)

(definition) + (problem)

Answer 9

two distinct forms coexist without interbreeding, and hence are different species

Question 10

Ring Species (rest of the ring)

(definition) + (problem)

Answer 10

traits of one of these species change gradually, through intermediate populations into traits of the second species.