Chapter 4 Flashcards
Artificial selection
The identification and selection of desirable traits by selectively breeding
Apex predator
An animal with no natural predators. Top of the food chain
Biome
A major ecological community type
Charismatic megafauna
A large species with symbolic value or widespread popular appeal. Often used by activists to gain public support for environmentalist goals
Ecosystem diversity
The variety of different habitats, communities, and ecological processes within an ecosystem
Evolution
The change in the genetic makeup of a population over time
Foundation species
Species that form habitats. Fundamental to the survival of an ecosystem
Functional diversity
Variety of processes that occur within ecosystems as species interact (ex: energy flow, matter cycling)
Generalist species
Broad niche
Many different habitats
Many different foods
Tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions
Specialist species
Narrow niche
One habitat
Few foods
Tolerate a narrow range of environmental conditions
More suceptible to extinction
Genetic diversity
Variety of genes found in a population or species
Genetic engineering
The process by which scientists alter genes in order to create new traits
Geographic isolation
The separation of two populations by a physical barrier, sometimes resulting in speciation
Green world hypothesis
Predators regulate the ecosystem from the top down, ensuring that insects don’t eat all the plants
Habitat
The home of any living thing
Indicator species
A highly sensitive species which can indicate an environmental change early
Keystone species
A species with a pivotal role in its ecosystem
Mass extinction
When species vanish at a rate much faster than they can be replaced
Mutation
A mistake in the DNA sequence of an individual
Native species
normally live/thrive in a particular ecosystem
Natural selection
The process by which individuals with favorable traits are better able to survive and reproduce
Niche
The role an organism plays in a healthy ecosystem
Non-native species
Migrate into/introduced to a new ecosystem
Reproductive isolation
The behavioral, geographic, or temporal separation of one group from another
Specialist species
Narrow niche
One type of habitat
More susceptible to extinction
Species
A group of organisms capable of producing viable offspring
Species diversity
Number and abundance of different kinds of species within an ecosystem
Species evenness
Describes the abundances of species relative to those within their ecosystem
Highest when all species have the same abundance
Speciation
The process by which a new species evolves from a common ancestor through evolution
Trophic cascade
The impact on an entire ecosystem when a species is removed or reduced
