Chapters 1-3.1 Flashcards
What is Biodiversity?
Variety of life in the world. Biodiversity allows ecosystems to change over time in order to adapt to their changing environment, it is used as a gauge of the health of ecosystems.
What is genetic diversity?
Different genes and combinations of genes in a species.
What is species diversity?
The variety (different kinds of species/organisms) and abundance (# of individuals) of species in a given area. Species Interactions
What is ecosystem diversity?
Different habitats, niches, and species interactions.
What is structural diversity?
The range of physical shapes and sizes within a habitat or ecosystem
What is a keystone species?
A species that has a disproportionately large effect on the ecosystem in which they live. The presence or absence of a keystone species can have a dramatic impact on the ecosystem.
What is the importance of classification?
We can distinguish organisms from each other It helps us understand how related living things are to each other
What and how do you make a dichotomous key?
Make one.
What is taxonomy?
Taxonomy is the science of naming, identifying and classifying species. Species are placed into taxonomic levels known as taxa, based on shared characteristics.
What are all the taxonomic levels?
Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom, Domain.
What is binomial nomenclature?
The method used to come up with the names of scientific species. Binomial nomenclature has two main characteristics: A two part Latin name A hierarchy of species into broader groups ex: Panthera leo (lion) and Panther pardus (leopard)
What is morphology?
Grouping organisms according to their structures
What is phylogeny
The evolutionary development of a group of organisms. Biologists use phylogenetic analysis to compare living organisms to extinct organisms. This allows us to determine how related extinct organisms are to modern organisms.
What and how do you use a phylogenetic tree?
Diagram that shows evolutionary relationships between organisms
What are clades?
A taxonomic group that includes a single common ancestor and all its descendants. Clades are used in phylogenetic trees to group species together.
What are Prokaryotes?
Single-celled organisms with no membrane bound organelles.
What are Eukaryotes?
Single-celled or multicellular organisms whose cells contain membrane bound organelles.
What are the three domains?
-Eubacteria -Archaea -Eukarya
Describe Eubacteria and Archaea (domains).
These organisms are known as prokaryotes. They are: -Microscopic -Unicellular -Have DNA but no nucleus -Lack membrane bound organelles
Describe Eukarya (domain)
All other organisms are a part of the eukarya domain. These organisms are made up of eukaryotic cells and: -Contain a nucleus -Contain membrane bound organelles -Can be microscopic or large -Can be single-celled or multicellular
What are the kingdoms of Eukarya?
-Protists -Fungi -Plantae -Animalia
What two domains do prokaryotes belong to?
-Bacteria -Archaea
What are some of the roles of bacteria?
Bacteria decompose organic matter and release nutrients back into the ecosystem Bacteria convert nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds which plants can absorb from the soil. This nitrogen is passed on to animals when they eat the plants.
Name 6 of the common types of bacteria?
-Proteobacteria (purple bacteria) -Green bacteria -Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) -Gram-positive bacteria -Spirochetes -Chlamydias
Describe proteobacteria (purple bacteria).
-Use a version of photosynthesis to obtain energy -Ancient forms were the ancestors of mitochondria in eukaryotes -Responsible for diseases including bubonic plague, gonorrhea, dysentery, ulcers.
Describe green bacteria.
-Use a version of photosynthesis to obtain energy -Found in salt water environments and hot springs
Describe cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
-Use same photosynthesis as plants to obtain energy -Ancient forms were ancestors to eukaryotic chloroplasts -Play major roles as producers and nitrogen fixers in aquatic eco-systems.
Describe gram-positive bacteria.
-Cause many diseases including strep throat, pneumonia, meningitis -Used in food production (ie. Lactobacillus in yogurt)
Describe spirochetes.
-Spiral shaped flagellum to move in corkscrew motion -Cause syphilis -Symbiotic relationship – live in termites intestines and digest wood fibre for termites.
Describe chlamydia.
-Parasites that live within other cells -Cause chlamydia -Cause trachoma, which causes blindness in humans
What are the three basic shapes of bacteria?
-Spherical -Rod-shaped -Spiral-shaped
Describe spherical bacteria.
-Also known as cocci -Examples of cocci include bacteria that cause pneumonia
Describe rod shaped bacteria.
-Also known as bacilli -Examples of bacilli include E. coli bacteria which are found in your intestine and in your feces
Describe spiral shaped bacteria.
-Also known as spirochetes -Examples of spirochetes include bacteria that cause lyme disease and bacteria that cause syphilis
Describe the cell wall of bacteria.
-Nearly all bacteria are protected by a cell wall -Cell walls in bacteria display structural diversity, meaning they are different from the cell walls of plant cells and archaea