Classification And Biodiversity Flashcards
What are the two broad groups of plants?
Flowering and non-flowering
What are the two broad groups of animals?
Vertebrates and invertebrates
What is the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates?
Vertebrates have a backbone, whereas invertebrates do not.
Why are scientific names for organisms important?
So that there is no confusion and one universal name can be provided for each organism that everyone can understand
Give 2 ways that organisms can be classified
•physical features
•phylogenetic relationships
What are the 7 levels of classification?
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Why are adaptations important?
Adaptations that mean organisms are more suited to their environment will help them to survive and reproduce as they will be able to outcompete other individuals
Give four things that animals compete for
•mates
•space
•food
•water
Give four things that plants compete for
•light
•water
•minerals
•space
What are the 2 different types of competition in an ecosystem?
Interspecific competition and intraspecific competition
What is interspecific competition?
Where organisms of different species compete for resources (e.g. food,water, shelter).
What is intaspecific competition?
Where organisms from the same species compete for resources (e.g. food, water, shelter).
Why is competition necessary in an ecosystem?
Competition is necessary when resources are limited and it leads to evolution by natural selection
Define biodiversity
The variety of living organisms in an area.
Why is biodiversity important?
•different organisms can provide food or useful industrial materials.
•some animals or plants may have useful medicinal properties.
•ecotourism benefits communities
What is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)?
An international agreement that regulates the trade of endangered species so that their survival is not threatened and biodiversity can be maintained
What is the difference between conservation and preservation?
Conservation is sustainable and active management of an ecosystem whereas preservation aims to maintain an ecosystem in it’s current state.
What is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI)?
An area of regulated and conserved land due to its natural features or the species it contains
What are captive breeding programmes?
Captive breeding programmes are plans to help ensure the survival of a species by encouraging existing members of that species to breed together in enclosures (e.g. in zoos).
How are seed banks useful for preserving biodiversity?
Seed banks store seeds in regulated environment to maintain copies of important genes in the seeds which can help to prevent extinction
What tool can be used to record the abundance of different plant species in a habitat?
A quadrant
Why is it important to take lots of readings in different areas when using quadrats?
So that the sample area is accurately represented
Why does the distribution of quadrats need to be random?
To prevent biased results
What do transects measure?
The change in distribution of organisms in an area
How do you set up a transect?
•Transects are lines that quad-rats are placed along
•They are often long tape measures laid on the ground and quadrants are placed at regular intervals along them.
State 2 methods of pest control
Biological control
Pesticides
What is biological control?
It is a method of controlling plant pests by deliberately introducing organisms that feed on the pests to decrease the number of them
Why are trials needed before the introduction of biological control?
-The effect on non-target species need to be determined.
-The effectiveness of the chosen biological control method needs to be assessed
