Chapter 2: Biodiversity and Classification

Question 1

how can an area be named a biodiversity hotspot

Answer 1

1. contain 1500 endemic vascular plant species
2. lost 70% or more of it’s natural vegetation

Question 2

define species

Answer 2

a group of morphologically similar organisms that can reproduce and produce fertile offspring

Question 3

define ecosystem

Answer 3

all the abiotic factors and the biotic factors and the ways they interconnect to form a self sustaining unit

Question 4

explain the three levels of biodiversity

Answer 4

genetic diversity: all the different genes in a species gene pool
species diversity: all the different species in an ecosystem
ecosystem diversity: all the different ecosystems in a region

Question 5

what is the biological species model and what are it’s limitations

Answer 5

species can interbreed and produce viable fertile offspring

this cannot be applied to fossils

Question 6

explain what spatial and temporal is

Answer 6

these are both used to measure biodiversity

spatial is measuring the movement of organisms or their distribution

temporal is measuring at different times

Question 7

name the taxa from largest to smalled

Answer 7

domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

Question 8

why are eukaryotes different to prokaryotes

Answer 8

eukaryotes have DNA and have organelles within their cells. Prokaryotes do not

Question 9

which kingdoms come under Eukarya and which come under Prokarya

Answer 9

Eukarya: fungi, animalia, plantae, Protista

Prokarya: bacteria, archaea

Question 10

define taxonomic level

Answer 10

a rank in a taxonomical hierarchy e.g class, phylum, order

Question 11

describe the three ways organisms are classified

Answer 11

physical characteristics - hair colour, bipedal, size

methods of reproduction - asexual, externally fertilised eggs

molecular sequences - amino acid chain cytochrome c defines how proteins are coded

Question 12

what are the similarities and differences between the three types of mammals

Answer 12

placental: long gestational period - foetus develops inside mother

marsupial: born early with little development, has a pouch where they are nurtured until they are mature enough

monotremes: lay eggs

Question 13

what are three defining factors of porifera + example

Answer 13

• asymmetrical
• water filled cavities
• sessile (attached to something)

sea sponge

Question 14

what are three defining factors of porifera + example

Answer 14

-radially symmetrical
-simple net like nervous system
-mostly aquatic

man-o-war jellyfish

Question 15

what are three defining factors of platyhelminths + example

Answer 15

-bilaterally symmetrical
-flattened body shape
-mouth but no anus (blind gut)

flatworms

Question 16

what are three defining factors of Mollusca + example

Answer 16

-bilaterally symmetrical
-muscular foot for locomotion
-body lacks a cavity

octopus

Question 17

what are three defining factors of Annelida + example

Answer 17

-bilaterally symmetrical
-through gut
-closed circulatory system

earthworms

Question 18

what are three defining factors of Nematoda + example

Answer 18

-bilaterally symmetrical
-cylindrical shape
-found mostly in aquatic environments

Question 19

what are three defining factors of Arthropoda + example

Answer 19

-exoskeleton
-bilaterally symmetrical
-segmented

scorpion

Question 20

what are 3 defining factors of Echinodermata + example

Answer 20

-five rayed symmetry, radial or bilateral
-no head
-thin epidermis covering exoskeleton

starfish

Question 21

what are three defining factors of Chordata + example

Answer 21

-mostly vertebrates
-dorsal nerve cord
-bilaterally symmetrical

humans

Question 22

what are bryophytes + example

Answer 22

-no vascular system

mosses

Question 23

what are pteridophytes + examples

Answer 23

-vascular
-spores

ferns

Question 24

what are gymnosperms + example

Answer 24

-cones
-pollen and seeds
-vascular

conifers

Question 25

what are gymnosperms + example

Answer 25

-flowers
-pollen and seeds
-vascular

apple trees

Question 26

compare and contrast dicots and monocots

Answer 26

dicots: two cotyledons, netlike veins, ring vascular bundle, taproot, floral parts in groups of four or five

monocots: one cotyledon, parallel veins, complex vascular bundle, fibrous root system, floral parts in groups of 3

Question 27

what are 3 assumptions of cladistics

Answer 27

-the closer the organisms are, the more traits they share
-distant groups might not have the same characteristics
-if two groups have the same feature they most likely share a common ancestor

Question 28

explain what mono and paraphyletic is

Answer 28

monophyletic contains all descendants from a single ancestor

paraphyletic doesn’t contain every descendant from a single ancestor

Question 29

what is a clade

Answer 29

a group of species that share a common ancestor

Question 30

what is hybrid species

Answer 30

an infertile organism that was created by two different species mating

Question 31

what is phylogenetic species model

Answer 31

species is the smallest group of organisms that can trace back to a common ancestor