Classification and Conservation Flashcards
Define habitat
The area inhabited by a species, includes the physical features eg temperature and living/biotic features eg availability of food
Define species
A group of similar organisms able to reproduce to give fertile offspring
Define biodiversity
The variety of living organisms in an area
What’s habitat diversity
Number of different habitats in an area, eg beach, marsh, sand dunes
What’s species diversity
Number of different species and the abundance of each species inan area, eg woodland contains many species
What’s genetic diversity
The variation of alleles within a species or population of a species
How do you sample biodiversity
Choose a small area to sample using random sampling eg computer generated numbers of the habitat you’re studying. Count the number of individuals of each species, plants quadrat, insects sweep net or pitfall trap, aquatic net. Repeat, the ,ore samples the more reliable as gives a better indication of whole habitat. Use results to estimate total for habitat
What’s species richness and how’s it measured
Number of different species in an area. Measured by taking random samples of a habitat and counting the number of different species.
What’s species evenness and how Is it measured
Measure of the relative abundance of each species in an area. The more similar the so: of each species population the greater the species evenness. Measured by takinimg random samples of a habitat and counting the number of individuals in different species
Tel me about Simpsons index of biodiversity
Takes into account both species richness and evenness. Gives a value between 0 and 1. Closer to 1 the more diverse the habitat
What are current estimates of biodiversity and why do they vary
Estimates range from 5 million to 100 million species. Varies so much because scientists use different techniques to estimate it and also there are many undiscovered species
What’s classification
The act of arranging organisms into groups based on their similarities and differences
What’s phylogeny
Grouping organisms based on their evolutionary history
What’s taxonomy
Grouping organisms based on their visible characteristics
What’s the taxonomic hierarchy
Domain kingdom phylum class order family genus species
Name the 5 kingdoms
Prokaryotae/Monera protoctista fungi plantae and animalia
Describe prokaryotae/Monera
Prokaryotic, unicellular, no nucleus and less than 5um eg Bacteria
Describe protoctista
Eukaryotic cells unicellular or simple multicellular organisms Ann d normally live in water rg algae
Describe fungi
Eg mushrooms. Eukaryotic, multicellular, chitin cell wall, saprotrophic (absorb nutrients from dead or decaying organisms)
Describe plantae
Eukaryotic multicellular cellulose cell walls can photosynthesise c,obtain chlorophyll and are autotrophic (produce own food)
Describe animalia
Eukaryotic multicellular have no cell walls and are heterotrophic (consume plants and other animals)
Describe the binomial naming system
Used to all organisms have one internationally accepted name in Latin that has two parts. Used to avoid confusion. The first is the genus name and is capitalised and the second is th specifies name and is lowercase, italics if printd and underlined if handwritten
Describe the 5 domain system vs the three domain system
3 domain proposed because of new evidence mainly molecular. In this system organisms with cells with a nucleus are in eukarya, organisms without nuclei were placed into two domains, archaea and bacteria
Define variation
The differences that exist between individuals
Describe variation within species
Called intraspecific variation eg dogs have different colours and shapes
Describe variation between species
Called inter specific variation eg ostrich and hummingbird are both birds but are very different
Describe continuous variation
When individuals in a population vary within a range, no distinct categories eg humans can be any height or weight
Describe discontinuous variation
Where there re two or more distinct categories with no intermediates eg blood type or gender
Describe the three causes of variation
Genetics. Genes organism has is genotype. Differences in this result in differences in phenotype which means characteristics displayed by organism. Eg eye colour hair colour. Environment eg accents. Both is skin colour, height etc
Describe behavioural adaptations
How an organism behaves that increases its chance of survival, eg possums play dead of threatened to escape attacks
Describe physiological adaptations
Processes inside an organism that increase it’s chance of survival eg brown bears hibernate to conserve energy so don’t have to find food in winter when it’s scarce
Describe anatomical adaptations
Structural features of an organism that increase it’s chance of survival eg otters streamlined do can move quickly in water to evade predators and catch prey
What were darwins 4 observations
Organisms produce more offspring than can survive. There is variation within species. Some characteristics can be passed on down generations. Individuals that are best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive
Describe darwins 4 theories
Predators disease and competition create a struggle for survival. Individuals with better charateristics are more likely to survive to breed and pass on their genes to next generation. Over time number of individuals with these advantageous adaptations increase. Over generations this leads to evolution as favourable adaptations become more common
What is speciation
The formation of a ne species when populations of the same spices evolve to become so different that they can’t bred with one another to produce fertile offspring
What are the evidence for evolution
Fossil records show gradual changes in organisms. DNA evidence shows which species are similar. Molecular evidence shows organisms which diverged recently have similar proteins and enzymes etc
What are reasons for conservation of animals
Avoid disruption of food chains, tourism which benefits economy’s food, moral responsibility
Describe how climate change affects biodiversity
Caused by emissions of greenhouse gases eg co2 by humans. Global biodiversity will hinge as climate change I’ll make some areas uninhabitable for species there and other areas habitable do range of a species may change. Can also become extinct if habitat changes too quickly or can’t migrate eg a plant unless it’s an ent but they’re pretty slow
Describe how climate change affects agriculture
Can grow crops where previously couldn’t, damage due to extreme weather eg drought or floods
Describe how climate change affects disease
Eg malaria can spread into other areas as now inhabitable for Mosquitos which are the vectors
What’s conservation in situ
Means on site, protecting species in their natural habitat. Eg laws so can’t hunt, stabilising nature reserves, national parks, restoring damaged areas, less disruptive than removing organisms but can be hard to conte some threats eg predators or poaching
Describe ex situ conservation
Off site. Rm oving part of the population fom a habitat and placing it in a new location. Eg captive breeding or zoos relocation to safer area. Can be used to protect individual animals in a controlled environment. Can reintroduce species that have left an area. Expensive and difficult and may not be successful so usually last resort
Describe botanical gardens
Controlled environments used to grow plants for conservation research display and education. Ex situ. Can grow and reintroduce into suitable habitat
Why is international cooperation important in conservation
Countries need to decide on conservation methods and implement them together
Describe the rio convention on biodiversity
Aims to develop international strategies on th conservation of biodiversity. Convention made it part of international law that conserving biodiversity is an international responsibility. Also provides guidance to governments
Describe the cites agreement
Convention on international trade in endangered species. Designed to increase international cooperation in regulating trade in wild animals and plant products. The member countries all made it illegal to kill endangered species. Agreement helps to conserve species by limiting trade and making trading of endangered animals illegal. Also designed to raise awareness through education
Describe environmental impact assessments
Assessments of impact of a development project I’ll have on the nf iron,ent. Evaluation of how project may impact biodiversity. Identifying as biodiversity can be conserved. Identifying if any laws relating to animals on project site g if endangered. Deciding what needs to be done if the project proceeds eg relocating species or protection.
