Chapter 1-2 Flashcards
Define species
A group of interbreeding organisms that are capable of producing fertile offspring
Define biodiversity
Full range of different living things in a particular area
What are two continents with high biodiversity
Australia and US. Recognised as megadiverse countries (possess particularly diverse ecosystems)
Define genus
Classification level above species
What did Alfred Russel Wallace do
Spent 4 years in the amazon, 8 in the Malay Archipelago. Discovered 5000 new species, collected 125660 specimens. Boat caught fire, lost most specimens and notes
Who was Joseph Banks
naturalist who collected 110 new genera and 1300 new species of plant material. Noted the abundance of ants and the ‘sameness’ of the Australian landscape
Who was Charles Darwin
Set foot on Australian soil in Jan 1836. Observed animals similar in form and behaviour to animals in England. Speculated why and how different animals could fit similar roles
What are the three levels biodiversity can be considered at?
Ecosystem diversity, Species diversity and Genetics diversity
What is the diversity of species
within an ecosystem there are different types of organisms which are all adapted to that particular area
What is the diversity of ecosystems
The differences in communities and their physical environments. Composed of biotic and abiotic factors and all components are linked by cycling of nutrients (eg CO2, O2, H2O)
What is the diversity of genetics
Differences between individuals of one species. Populations with higher genetic diversity are more resilient. (Eg, human eye colour)
Define ecosystem
An interacting community of populations of organisms and the physical environment in which they live
What is the ecosystem concept
Assumes that an ecosystem has some isolation from other ecosystems, however materials do cross boundaries and earth as a whole is connected through cycling of nutrients + transformation of energy
What is unique about The Australian Flora and Fauna
Quite different to that found anywhere else on Earth and is very diverse. Has approximately 1 million species of plants, animals and micro organisms representing 7% of the worlds total. Is considered a mega diverse country.
Define endemic
A species that is native to a particular geographic region and not introduced. EG, kangaroo, Koala and platypus.
What is the biological species concept
Is one of the definitions of a species based on the capacity for individuals to interbreed. Individuals within a species are reproductively isolated from individuals not belonging to that species
What are two problems with the biological species concept
not possible to apply to fossils of extinct organisms and that wo closely related organisms can produce hybrids.
What are the three species concepts
Biological, Morphological and Phylogenetic species concept
What is the morphological species concept
The definition of a species based on physical characteristics used with fossils and characterizes species by its morphology (eg human head).
What are the problems with using the morphological species concept
as there is a disagreement as to which feature should be used
What is the Phylogenetic species concept
States that all species come from common ancestors.
What are the problems with the phylogenetic species concept
As it is based on genetic techniques only
What is the underlying idea between all three concepts
A species shares a gene pool of which all organisms outside the species do not have access to and that genes can flow between all individuals within a particular species
Define hybrid
An organism resulting from two different species interbreeding (eg Horse + Donkey = Mule)
Define biotic
Living factors (Predators, parasites)
Define abiotic
Non living factors (Light intensity, Temperature, pH of soil, salinity, water availability)
Why do we need to classify
To organise as the diversity of life on earth is so enormous.
To allow biologists to analyse information.
To allow biologists to communicate with each other (compare findings)
What is a limitation of classification
classification systems simplify information that would otherwise be too complex to analyse. This is a reason as to why they work but is also a limitation
Define taxonomic levels are what are they
The classification of organisms into a number a groups. Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species (Dear King Philip Come Over For Good Soup)
What are the three domains and their differences
Eurkarya (contain DNA within a nucleus and have membrane bound organelles)
Archaea + Bacteria (Prokaryotes meaning they are single called, differences in the way DNA is stored and how proteins are synthesized)
What are the 6 kingdoms
Animalia (animals) eg mammals
Pantae (Cell walls with cellulose, can photosynthesise) eg mosses
Protista (Single celled + in aqueous environments) eg, amoebae
Fungi (Cell walls made of chitin) eg mushrooms
Archea
Bacteria
What is the binomial system
A system of naming organisms using two parts, a Genus (Capital) and a descriptive name (lowercase). Must be underlined or in italics. Genus can be appreciated (E. Coli instead of Escherichia coli).
What is classification based on
ideas that members of the same group share characteristics that are not present in members outside of the group. Can be split into Physical characteristics, reproductive method and Molecular sequences
What are the physical characteristics of classification
Any describable aspect of an organism (hair, limbs, cells)
Define reproductive method of classification
Variation in how organisms reproduce can be used to classify (Sexual vs Asexual, Placentals vs marsupials)
What are the molecular sequences of classification
DNA is made up of four bases (A+T, C+G). The order determines features. Proteins are made up of amino acids, the order can also be used to classify.
what are the taxonomic levels for humans
Kingdom(Animalia), Phylum (Chordata), Class (mammalia), Order (Primates), Family (Hominidae), Genus (Homo), Species (Homo Spaniens)
