Biological Diversity Flashcards
Species
A group of organisms that have the same basic structure.
Biological Diversity
Describes the variety of species and ecosystems on earth and the ecological processes they are part of.
Ecosystem
An environment where living things interact with other living/non-living things
Symbiosis
Association between members of different species
Commensalism
One benefits and the other doesn’t benefit or get hurt
Mutualism
Both benefit
Parasitism
One benefits and other is hurt
Interspecies competition
2 or more different species using the same limited resource
Niche
What an organism eats, where it lives, how it reproduces
Resource Partitioning
Dividing resources for coexisting species using the same limited resource while having slightly different niches
Variability
Variation within a species
Natural Selection
When the environment selects which species will survive long enough to reproduce
Non-heritable characteristics
A skill you learn
Discrete variation
A trait that you either have or don’t
Continuous Variation
A trait that varies in shapes and sizes
Asexual Reproduction
Involves only 1 individual and results in identical offspring
Binary Fission
Cells divide equally producing 2 identical individuals
Budding
Parent develops bud or smaller version of itself that eventually detaches
Spores
Similar to seeds, offsprings develops distance from parent
Vegetative Reproduction
Multicellular structures become detached from parent and grows to become genetically identical to parent
Gametes
Sex Cells
Sperm Cells
Male sex cells
Egg cells (ova)
Female gametes fertilized by sperm cells
Fertilization
The process of male and female gametes uniting
Zygote
Fertilized egg cell, result of fertilization
Cleavage
Cell division after zygote is formed
Embryo
Result of cleavage process
Pollen
Contains male gametes in plants
Stamen
Male part of the flower
Ovules
Sac containing female sex cells
Pistil
Female reproductive organ in plants
Pollination
Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma
Anther
Part of stamen that produces pollen
Stigma
Female part of the flower that receives pollen
Cross pollination
Transfer of pollen from anther of one plant to stigma of another by wind, water, animals
Cross fertilization
result of cross pollination
Style
Structure that supports the stigma and connects to the ovary
Ovary
Female reproductive organ in which egg cells are produced
Genetic Code
“Rungs of ladder” Cytosine, Adenine, Thymine and Guanine
Chromosomes
Packages of DNA that contains specific instructions for the organism
Gene
Instructions for organism
Alleles
Genes that come in different forms
Mitosis
Cell division producing 2 daughter cells (growth and repair cells) My-toe-cells!
Meiosis
Produces 4 daughter cells ( process needed to make gametes for reproduction)
Purebred
When individual have been bred due to ancestors who had the same traits
Hybrid
When 2 purebreds cross
Dominant Trait
observed when 2 opposite acting alleles are inbred
Recessive Trait
When 2 opposite acting alleles are inherited
Incomplete Dominance
When 2 alleles are present but neither gene is dominant
Extirpation
Species is extinct from a certain area
Special Concern
A species that may become threatened or endangered in the near future
Overspecialization
Species has adapted to only a small set of environmental conditions
Artificial Selection
Humans using science to determine how a species reproduces and what offspring it will have
Biotechnology
Using science and technology to control organisms
Artificial Insemination
Manually putting semen into a female
In Vitro Fertilization
Fertilizes egg in a petri-dish and insert embryo into female
Genetic Engineering
Any technology that directly alters the DNA of an organism
Ex-situ Conservation
Maintenance of organisms outside of their natural habitat
In-situ Conservation
Maintenance of organisms in the wild
