Chapter 2: Classification Process Flashcards
What is taxonomy?
A system of classification, particularly biological; or the study of these systems
What is a major benefit of classification?
It simplifies and condenses large amounts of information
What are hierarchies?
A system categorized by the specific arrangement of information into ‘layers’
What is a major limitation to classification?
It can be interpreted in many different ways and is open to interpretation
What is the most standard and widely accepted form of taxonomy?
Linnaean classification
What are the 8 major taxa?
Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species
What are the three domains?
Eukarya, Archaea and Bacteria
What are the four kingdoms in domain Eukarya?
Animalia, Plantae, Protista and Fungi
What is binomial nomenclature?
A naming system is which each individual is given a two-part name, such as genus and species or fist name and surname
What is the eutherian (placental) form of reproduction?
A mammal that gives birth to fully developed, or very near fully developed, live young
What are monotremes?
A mammal that does not give birth to live young but lay eggs
What are the only two monotremes?
Echidnas and platypuses
What is r/K selection?
A form of mathematical classification based on the number of offspring a species produces and the level of parental involvement required to care for them
What are phylogenic trees?
A branching diagram showing evolutionary relationships
What is a clade?
A group comprising all of the same descendants of a particular ancestor organism
What is a cladogram?
A phylogenetic tree in which all organisms are grouped according to their most likely evolutionary relationships
What is cladistics?
A taxonomic technique that arranges organisms by clade
What are the three assumptions that cladistics relies on?
That all organisms share a common ancestor, Offspring diverge dichotomously and organisms become increasingly different
What does plesiomorphic mean?
Having characteristics or traits that are common among their evolutionary relatives but are not unique to their clade
What does apomorhpic mean?
Having a characteristic or trait unique to a particular group of organisms that is different from their evolutionary relatives
What is a character matrix?
A table of characteristics used for classification
What is a node on a cladogram?
A point in a diagram where lines branch or intersect
What is molecular homology?
The identification of shared biomolecular elements - generally genes - used to test the relationships between organisms, which can demonstrate common ancestry
What is comparative genomics?
The study of DNA similarities across species
What is a conserved sequence?
A DNA or protein sequence that is preserved across species due to optimal function
What are amino acid residues?
A single unit that makes up a polymer
What is mutation rate?
The estimated number of base pair changes per nucleotide site per generation of a population
What is bioinformatics?
The digital storage, retrieval, organisation and analysis of biological data; it is especially important in genomics research because of the large amount of complex data this research generates
What is molecular phylogeny?
The study of evolutionary relationships using comparative genomics
What is the biological species concept?
The definition of a species based on the capacity of individuals to interbreed
What are some limitation to the biological species concept?
It is not possible two apply to fossils - it is impossible to know which specimens could interbreed or whether physical differences between specimens denote a new species or individual variation
What are three different species concepts?
Biological, morphological and phylogenic
What is the morphological species concept?
The definition of a species based on physical characteristics
What is the phylogenetic species concept?
The definition of a species based on the smallest group of individuals having a common ancestor, often determined through genetic analysis
What are some barriers that prevent species from interbreeding?
Incompatibility or behavioural differences
What are the results of species interbreeding?
Usually, there is no offspring, however, if there is any offspring it is usually infertile.
What is an example of a hybrid which is fertile?
A grolar bear (polar-grizzly)
What are the four different species interactions?
Competition, symbiosis, predation and disease
What is symbiosis?
A relationship between individuals of two or more species in which at least one organism benefits from the interaction
What are the three main types of symbiosis?
Parasitism, commensalism and mutualism
What is the photic zone?
The first 200 m of ocean depth that is deep as light can penetrate, allowing for photosynthetic animals to live, 90% of ocean life lives in this zone
What is eutrophication?
The increase of concentration of nutrients, such as phosphates and nitrates, in a waterway that promotes algal bloom
What is stratified sampling?
A statistical sampling technique that divides an area into strata for separate sampling
What are stratum?
A lay or subsection of a whole
What is the population density equation?
Average number of individuals per quadrat/ size of each quadrat
What is a transect?
A narrow section taken straight across an area, along which observations or measurements are made
What is a common method of sampling mobile species?
capture-mark-recapture
What are some ways to minimise error during sampling?
Sufficient quadrants, proportional number quadrates in each area, using a random number generator
What are some ways to present collected information?
The most simplest form is in a table however, it is easier in a visual format (graphs)
