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Biology > Biological Diversity/Ecosystem Dynamics > Flashcards

Biological Diversity/Ecosystem Dynamics Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Ecosystem

A

Environment containing living organisms interacting with each other and with non-living factors.

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2
Q

Biotic

A

Living

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3
Q

Abiotic

A

Non-living

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4
Q

When and why were cane toads introduced to Australia?

A
  • 1935
  • Control greyback cane beetle
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5
Q

How many cane toads were originally released, and how many are there now?

A
  • Originally released = 102
  • Now = approx. 2 million
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6
Q

When do cane toads feed?

A

At night

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7
Q

Cane toads are ……dwellers

A

Ground dwellers

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8
Q

What do cane toads usually eat?

A
  • Insects
  • Snails
  • Opportunistic foods
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9
Q

What have cane toads been known to eat, despite not being their usual diet?

A
  • Frogs
  • Birds
  • Small mammals
  • Reptiles
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10
Q

Cane toads absorb ….. through their skin

A

Water

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11
Q

What are predators of cane toads?

A

Cane toads have no known predators

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12
Q

When do cane toads breed?

A

All year round

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13
Q

How many eggs do female cane toads lay, and how quickly do they hatch?

A
  • Up to 30 000 at a time
  • Hatch in 2-3 days
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14
Q

What is a cane toad’s defence mechanism

A

Glands on shoulders produce bufotoxin, which, when ingested, causes problems to the heart and central nervous system.

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15
Q

Which cane toad predators are selected against?

A
  • Vulnerable to bufotoxin
  • Preference to eat toads
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16
Q

Which cane toad predators are selected for?

A
  • Resistant to bufotoxin
  • Reluctant to eat toads
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17
Q

How have cane toads affected red-bellied black snakes?

A
  • Caused selection pressure for snake heads to get smaller
  • Larger heads = eat larger toads = larger dose of toxin
  • Smaller heads = eat smaller toads = smaller dose of toxin
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18
Q

How have cane toads affected northern quolls?

A
  • Caused genetic/behavioural change to stop eating toads
  • Possible gene that makes them ‘toad adverse’
  • Quolls with gene have advantage over those without
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19
Q

When and why was prickly pear introduced to Australia?

A
  • 1800s from America
  • Dye industry
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20
Q

Why did prickly pear propagate and become a pest?

A
  • Established by seeds
  • Parent plant branches are easily detachable
  • Branches come into contact with soil and grow
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21
Q

Early control measures for prickly pear that failed

A
  • Burning
  • Crushing
  • Herbicides
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22
Q

2 insect species imported to control prickly pear

A
  • Cochineal beetle
  • Cactoblastis moth
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23
Q

Which prickly pear control method was the most successful?

A

Cactoblastis moth

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24
Q

Biological control

A

Use of a natural predator to control a pest

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25
Q

Which individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce despite a change in selection pressures?

A

Those with characteristics best suited to the change

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26
Q

Adaptations

A

Characteristics inherited by an organism to make it more suited to its environment.

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27
Q

An adaptation is a result of a …… due to ………… in the process of …………

A
  • Change/variation
  • Cell division
  • Reproduction
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28
Q

Adaptations are …… , an organism does ……………. change

A

random, not intentionally

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29
Q

Adaptations are …… differences that may or may not ……. the organism and …….. its chance of survival

A

random, benefit, increase

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30
Q

Structural adaptations

A
  • How the organism is built/structured
  • Physical features - both inside and outside
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31
Q

Physiological adaptations

A
  • Relates to organism’s functional processes
  • Variations in metabolism/physiology at a cellular, tissue, organ or system level
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32
Q

Behavioural adaptations

A

Actions performed in response to a stimulus

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33
Q

Macroevolution

A
  • Takes place over millions of years
  • Measured as geological time
  • Results in new species & larger groups
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34
Q

Microevolution

A
  • Takes place over relatively short periods
  • Results in changes within populations (varieties/races)
  • Usually does not produce new species
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35
Q

Progress of how a change in environment results in adaptation

A
  1. Change in environment
  2. Limited resource
  3. Selection pressure
  4. Competition
  5. Survival of the fittest
  6. Genes passed to next generation
  7. Adaptation of organisms
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36
Q

Divergent evolution

A
  • One species -> several different species
  • New species from common ancestor
  • Evolution due to isolation in different environments
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37
Q

Convergent evolution

A
  • Similar traits due to similar environmental pressures
  • No common ancestor
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38
Q

Theory of Gradualism

A
  • Slow, incremental change
  • New species formed over time
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39
Q

Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium

A
  • Lot of evolutionary change
  • Short period of time
  • Stasis -> sudden change -> stasis
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40
Q

Comparative anatomy

A
  • Compares structural similarities & differences
  • Identifies potential connection (convergent/divergent)
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41
Q

Homologous features

A
  • 2 or more species share similar features
  • Likely inherited from common ancestor
  • Suggests divergent evolution
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42
Q

Vestigial structures

A

No longer serve a purpose as species evolve

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43
Q

Analogous features

A
  • Morphologically/functionally similar
  • Do not link organisms to common ancestor
  • Suggests convergent evolution
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44
Q

Biogeography

A
  • Continental drift led to shifting tectonic plates
  • Species separated & exposed to new environments
  • Fossil record on different shores provides evidence
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45
Q

Biochemistry

A

Study of chemicals found within living organisms and their cells

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46
Q

Amino acid sequencing as evidence of evolution

A
  • Amino acids form proteins found in all organisms
  • Identified & compared to uncover relationships between organisms
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47
Q

DNA sequencing as evidence of evolution

A
  • DNA strand contains sequenced nucleotide bases
  • Pattern of nucleotides compared to find similarities & differences
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48
Q

Steps of DNA-DNA hybridisation

A
  1. Combination of 2 separated strands from different species
  2. Becomes a hybrid double helix
  3. 2 halves separated with heat
  4. Higher temp required to separate = more similar
    Lower temp = less similar
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49
Q

Palaeontology

A

Study of fossils

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50
Q

Relative dating

A
  • Determines relative fossil age using rock strata
  • Higher strata = younger
  • Lower strata = older
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51
Q

Stratigraphy

A

Study of strata layers

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52
Q

Biostratigraphy

A

Study of fossils within strata layers

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53
Q

Palaeomagnetism

A

Study of the Earth’s changing magnetic field in rocks, sediments & other materials.

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54
Q

Absolute dating

A
  • Radiometric measures to identify isotopic decay in rocks
  • Quantitative representation of age
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55
Q

Index fossils

A
  • Fossils with known age
  • Can be compared to other fossils/rocks
56
Q

Fission track dating

A
  • Measures damage trails of nuclear fission between uranium & metals
  • Observed with a microscope
57
Q

Potassium-argon dating

A
  • Measures ratio of radioactive argon to radioactive potassium
  • Ratio & level of decay used to identify age
58
Q

Transitional fossils

A

Fossil records show transitions between groups of organisms
E.g. Archaeopteryx = transition between dinosaurs & birds

59
Q

Limitations of palaeontology

A
  • Fossils form better/worse in different environments (e.g. aquatic)
  • Not all fossils are complete
  • Lack of early or soft-bodied organisms
60
Q

Habitat

A
  • Place an organism lives
  • Includes biotic and abiotic features
61
Q

Community

A

Organisms living together in a particular place

62
Q

Terrestrial environment

A
  • Land
  • Covers 35% of Earth’s surface
63
Q

Aquatic environment

A
  • Fresh or salt water
  • Ocean = 65% of Earth’s surface
64
Q

Temperature in aquatic environment

A
  • Small, gradual changes
  • More varied in smaller bodies of water
65
Q

Temperature in terrestrial environment

A
  • Extremely varied
  • Vary daily and seasonally
66
Q

Pressure in aquatic environment

A
  • Increases with depth of water
67
Q

Pressure in terrestrial environment

A
  • Decreases with altitude
68
Q

Light availability in aquatic environment

A
  • Decreases rapidly with depth of water
  • Affects distribution of organisms
69
Q

Light availability in terrestrial environment

A
  • Freely available
  • Important for plant growth
  • May be affected by dense plant growth
70
Q

Landscape in aquatic environment (altitude/slope/aspect)

A
  • May affect light intensity & temp
  • May affect tide, current & waves
71
Q

Landscape in terrestrial environment (altitude/slope/aspect)

A
  • Affects light intensity, water availability, soil quality
  • May cause runoff/erosion
72
Q

Availability of gases (O2 & CO2) in aquatic environment

A
  • Depends on water temp.
  • Slower diffusion
  • O2 concentration decreases with depth
  • Fast-moving water has more contact with air, dissolves more gases
73
Q

Availability of gases (O2 & CO2) in terrestrial environment

A
  • Freely available, except at high altitudes
74
Q

Rainfall and water in aquatic environment

A
  • Freely available
  • Organisms adapt to type of water (salt/fresh)
75
Q

Rainfall and water in terrestrial environment

A
  • Availability varies
  • Must be sourced
  • Organisms adapt to cope with shortage
76
Q

Salinity & ion availability in aquatic environment

A
  • Organisms need to cope with osmotic differences between cells and environment
  • Salt vs fresh water
77
Q

Salinity & ion availability in terrestrial environment

A
  • Depends on soil composition & type
78
Q

pH in terrestrial environment

A
  • Soil pH varies
  • Affected by dissolved salts
79
Q

pH in aquatic environment

A
  • Varies between salt & fresh
  • Depends on organic materials & gases
  • CO2 can lower pH
80
Q

Buoyancy in aquatic environment

A
  • Greater in water than land
  • Water provides more support than air
  • Larger organisms with fewer support mechanisms
81
Q

Buoyancy in terrestrial environment

A
  • Air provides less resistance than water
  • Easy to move through
82
Q

Natural forces in aquatic environment

A
  • Tides
  • Waves
  • Currents
83
Q

Natural forces in terrestrial environment

A
  • Wind
  • Rain
  • Seasons
84
Q

Ecology

A
  • Study of interrelationships between organisms, each other and the environment
  • Distribution and abundance of organisms
85
Q

Atmosphere

A
  • Air
  • Shell that surrounds Earth
  • N2, O2, CO2 & other gases
86
Q

Hydrosphere

A
  • All water on Earth
  • All states of matter
87
Q

Lithosphere

A
  • Outer layer of EArth
  • Crust & upper mantle
  • Rocks & soil
88
Q

Surrounding environment can ………. and ………. affect an organisms

A

positively and negatively

89
Q

Abiotic factors are … ……. ……….. throughout an ecosystem, affecting the ……… and ………… of living things.

A
  • Not evenly distributed
  • Abundance and distribution
90
Q

When species interact with one another, interactions may be ……., …….., or ……..

A

positive, negative or neutral

91
Q

Predation

A
  • Predator/prey relationship
  • Predator obtains food by killing & eating
92
Q

Competition

A
  • Resources in common
  • Limited supply
  • Valuable to survival
93
Q

Direct competition

A
  • Aggression
  • Physical interaction
94
Q

Indirect competition

A
  • Vocalisation
  • Leaving a scent
  • Marking territory
95
Q

What do species compete for?

A
  • Food
  • Shelter to avoid predators
  • Shelter to defend territory or young
  • Shelter for nest sites
96
Q

Intraspecific competition

A
  • Between same species
  • More intense as there are more resources in common
97
Q

Interspecific competition

A
  • Between different species
  • May lead to evolution of one species due to selection pressures from the other
98
Q

Allelopathy

A

Production of biomolecules by a plant that can be beneficial or harmful to another.

99
Q

Allelochemicals

A
  • Produced by a plant
  • Escape into environment
  • Influence growth & developmennt of surrounding plants
100
Q

Symbiosis

A

A relationship between two organisms that benefits at least one of them.

101
Q

3 types of symbiotic interactions

A
  • Mutualism
  • Commensalism
  • Parasitism
102
Q

Mutualism

A

Both species benefit

103
Q

Commensalism

A

One species benefits, the other is unaffected

104
Q

Parasitism

A

One species benefits, the other suffers

105
Q

Niche

A

The part of the ecosystem that an organism occupies, including its function and the resources it uses.

106
Q

Competitive exclusion principle

A

No two species occupy the same niche

107
Q

Fundamental niche

A

Niche an organism would occupy if it had no competitors, predators or parasites.

108
Q

Organisms usually occupy a realised niche due to…

A

Restrictions placed by other organisms

109
Q

4 factors impacting populations

A
  • Predation
  • Competition
  • Symbiosis
  • Disease
110
Q

Predators affect ………… and ……… of prey

A

distribution and abundance

111
Q

If a prey species reproduces as fast as it is predated, its population will…

A

remain stable

112
Q

…….. numbers copy those of ….

A

predator, prey

113
Q

What happens to a predator population if there are large numbers of prey available?

A

Increases

114
Q

What happens to a predator population if large numbers of prey are consumed?

A

Prey numbers decline when eaten, thereore predator numbers also decline

115
Q

Factors affecting predator/prey relations

A
  • No. of predators
  • Availability of prey’s food
  • Reproduction rate
  • Death rate
  • Male-female ratio
  • Ecosystem size
  • Availability of shelter sites
116
Q

Fertility

A

Likelihood of fertilisation during reproduction

117
Q

Fecundity

A

Number of offspring per reproduction

118
Q

Competition for resources affects organism …….. and …………

A

survival and reproduction

119
Q

Effect of readily available food on species abundance

A

Abundance increases

120
Q

Effect of decrease in food availability on species abundance

A

Abundance decreases

121
Q

What does symbiosis contribute to?

A
  • Biodiversity
  • Symbiogenesis
  • Enhanced evolutionary ‘fitness’
  • New capabilities for organisms
122
Q

Symbiosis contributes to biodiversity due to…

A

Increased evolutionary diversification

123
Q

Symbiogenesis

A

Development of new species from integration of genetic material

124
Q

Disease

A

Any process that adversely affects the normal functioning of tissues in a living organism.

125
Q

Population

A

All organisms of a single species in an area

126
Q

Demography

A

Study of…
* Number of individuals in a population
* Dispersal of these individuals
* Their density in a particular area

127
Q

Sampling

A

Techniques to estimate population numbers when totals cannot be counted.

128
Q

Transect

A
  • Line, strip or profile
  • Counts and maps no. of individuals along the line
  • Shows diversity of species across a changing area
  • Includes vertical scale for plant height & topography
129
Q

Quadrats

A
  • Defined area used to measure distribution, abundance, or density
  • Size determined by organism size
  • Randomly placed
  • Useful for stationary organisms
130
Q

Percentage cover

A
  • Uses 100 point grid
  • Used when individuals are hard to count
  • Estimate given as %
131
Q

Capture-mark-recapture

A
  1. Species caught and marked/tagged
  2. Released
  3. Another group caught later
  4. Number of tagged among new group are counted
132
Q

Formula for abundance (capture-mark-recapture)

A

number captured x number recaptured
…………………………………………………………………
number marked in recapture

133
Q

Extinction

A

Death of all members of a species

134
Q

Major extinction events

A

A number of different species become extinct around the same time

135
Q

When were the Australian megafauna alive?

A

Pleistocene epoch (1.6m - 10 000 years ago)

136
Q

What are the possible causes of Australian megafauna extinction?

A
  • Climate change from ice age
  • Arrival of humans

Biology (4 decks)

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