Biology - Chapter 17

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

The branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.

Question 2

Biological Evolution

Answer 2

simply put, is descent with modification. This definition encompasses small-scale evolution (changes in gene frequency in a population from one generation to the next) and large-scale evolution (the descent of different species from a common ancestor over many generations).

Question 3

Coevolution

Answer 3

WHen two species evolve together and in each other’s favours

Question 4

Natural Selection

Answer 4

The theory holding that competition exists within species, determining which species live to have offspring, and pass their traits onto those offspring

Question 5

Stabilizing Selection

Answer 5

When selection pressures favour the average form of the trait.

Question 6

Directional Selection

Answer 6

When selection pressures favour one extreme of the trait distribution. Giraffe and moth.

Question 7

Disruptive Selection

Answer 7

In disruptive selection, selection pressures act against individuals in the middle of the trait distribution.Grey-white- Grey-white Rabbits.

Question 8

Artificial Selection

Answer 8

Selection by humans for desired traits. Also called domestication or breeding. cattle breeding, crop breeding.

Question 9

Sexual Selection

Answer 9

The selection of traits based on their role in courtship and mating.

Question 10

Choice

Answer 10

In sexual selection, the competition for attention from the opposite sex.

Question 11

Contest

Answer 11

In sexual selection, fights or aggressive displays between same-sex individuals of the same species; contests usually determine possession of territory or mates.

Question 12

Trait

Answer 12

A particular characteristic of an individual plant or animal.

Question 13

Fitness

Answer 13

The probability that an individual will contribute its genes to the next generation.

Question 14

Morphs

Answer 14

The different physical forms a trait may have. Long necks and short necks are examples of morphs.

Question 15

Polymorphic

Answer 15

A trait that exists in several different morphs is polymorphic.

Question 16

Species

Answer 16

The lowest taxonomic rank, and the most basic unit or category of biological classification. An individual belonging to a group of organisms (or the entire group itself) having common characteristics and (usually) are capable of mating with one another to produce fertile offspring.

Question 17

Supplement

Answer 17

A species is given a two-part name: the generic name and the specific name (or specific epithet). For example, Allium cepa (commonly known as onion).

Question 18

Population

Answer 18

A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time (e.g. deer population).

Question 19

Gene pool

Answer 19

All genes or their different set of alleles present in interbreeding population or collective genetic information of a group of organisms.

Question 20

Allele Frequency

Answer 20

The commonness of the occurring of a particular allele in a population.

Question 21

Genetic drift

Answer 21

Genetic drift describes random fluctuations in the numbers of gene variants in a population.

Question 22

Organism

Answer 22

: Living things that are capable of reacting to stimuli, reproduction, growth, and homeostasis. Supplement Plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms are examples of organisms. They all consist of monomeric units called cells. Some organisms may function independently or singly (unicellular) whereas others may form many units (multicellular) divided into specialized tissues and organs. Based on cell type, organisms may be divided into prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Question 23

Abiotic factors

Answer 23

are nonliving environmental factors that can affect the organisms in ecosystems. Examples of abiotic factors are light intensity, soil moisture level, soil pH, temperature.

Question 24

Biotic Factors

Answer 24

are interactions associated with living organisms Examples of biotic factors are competition for environmental resources, grazing, parasitism (where one organism, the parasite, benefits from harming another organism, the host).

Question 25

Darwin / Darwinism

Answer 25

is a theory of biological evolution developed by the English naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882) and others, stating that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual’s ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.

Question 26

Linneaus and its naming system

Answer 26

Carolus Linnaeus is the father of taxonomy, which is the system of classifying and naming organisms. … Today, this system includes eight taxa: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Linnaeus also provided us with a consistent way to name species called binomial nomenclature.

Question 27

Fossils

Answer 27

the remains or impression of a prehistoric plant or animal embedded in rock and preserved in petrified form. The evidence inrock of the presence of a plant or an animal from an earlier geological period. Fossils are formed when minerals in groundwater replace materials in bones and tissue, creating a replica in stone of the original organism or of their tracks.

Question 28

Rudiments organs

Answer 28

an organ or part incompletely developed in size or structure, as one inan embryonic stage, one arrested in growth, or one with no functional activity, as a vestige.

Question 29

Territory

Answer 29

In ethology, territory is the sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics (or, occasionally, animals of other species). Animals that defend territories in this way are referred to as territorial.

Question 30

Camouflage

Answer 30

Many animals have evolved to exhibit some form of camouflage, which is an adaptation that allows animals to blend in with certain aspects of their environment. Camouflage increases an organism’s chance of survival by hiding it from predators.

Question 31

Mimicry

Answer 31

helps animals and plants in various ways. It can keep them from being eaten, orit can help them get food. A fascinating result of evolution is the phenomenon of mimicry, the superficial resemblance of one organism to another that gives the mimicking organism some advantage or protection from predators.

Question 32

Genetic variation

Answer 32

describes the variation in the DNA sequence in each of our genomes. Individuals of a species have similar characteristics but they are rarely identical, the difference between them is called variation. It is caused by reshuffling and/or mutation.

Question 33

Sexual reproduction

Answer 33

produces genetic variation among the individual in population and genetic variations produces phenotypic variation

Question 34

Reshuffling

Answer 34

During meiosis, Chromosomal independent assortment, crossing over, –Random mating between organisms within species, and Random fertilization.

Question 35

Variation

Answer 35

it is all the differences which exist between members of the same species.

Question 36

Discontinuous variation

Answer 36

it is a variation that has distinct groups of organisms to belong to. A bar graph is used to represent discontinuous variation.
Some examples of discontinuous variation are: Qualitative data–fingerprints –eye color –blood groups ( ABO).

Question 37

Continous variation

Answer 37

it is a variation that has no limit on the value that can occur within a population. A line graph is used to represent continuous variation (See at Page 399 Figure 17.1 a and b).

Question 38

Sickle cell anemia

Answer 38

interaction of two strong selection pressures can maintain two alleles within certain populations

Question 39

Genetic drift

Answer 39

Genetic drift describes random fluctuations in the numbers of gene variants in a population.

Question 40

Transects

Answer 40

A transect is line across a habitat or part of a habitat. It can be as simple as a string or rope placed in a line on the ground. The number of organisms of each species can be observed and recorded at regular intervals along the transect.

Question 41

Kite diagrams

Answer 41

A kite diagram is a chart that shows the number of animals (or percentage cover for plants) against distance along a transect.