Classification + Biodiversity Flashcards
Biodiversity:-
A measure of the number of different species and the number of individuals in each species in a given environment.
Species:-
A group of organisms with a large number of common characteristics and could be interbred to produce fertile offspring
Spacial biodiversity variation:-
Biodiversity generally increases moving towards the equator with the greatest biodiversity found in the tropics. Tropical rain forests and coral reefs = most diverse habitats in world.
Biodiversity variation over time:-
Can increase or decrease due to:-
Sucession
Natural selection
Human influence
Sucession(3):-
- Over time a community of organisms changes its habitat, making it more suitable for other species.
- This change in composition of a community over time is called succession.
- It increases animal biodiversity but ultimately decreases plant biodiversity.
Human influence on ocean biodiversity:-
Over fishing has depleted fish stocks.
Human influence on tropical rainforest biodiversity:-
Deforestation for farming, roads and industry has destroyed habitats.
Human land misuse influence on biodiversity:-
Trampling by cattle w/ increased temp due to climate change has increased area of deserts.
Human pollution influence on biodiversity:-
Rivers poluted with industrial chemicals e.g. Yangtze River Dolphin extinct in 2006.
Significance of biodiversity:-
- A small number of plant species provide staple foods e.g. wheat and rice.
- Living organisms provide important raw materials e.g. rubber/cotton.
- medicinal drugs are derived from plants and fungi e.g. digoxin for heart disease comes from digitalis (foxglove).
- As biodiversity decreases, we lose potential undiscovered resources.
3 levels of assessing biodiversity:-
Habitat level- counting no. of individuals and species.
Genetic level-examining genes.
Molecular level- examining DNA and proteins.
Genetic level assessing:-
Examining all the alleles in the gene pool of a population rather than individuals
Gene pool:1
All the different alleles of all the diff genes in a population. No of different alleles in pool of species = genetic diversity.
Gene locus:-
A gene’s position on a chromosome
Polymorphic genes:-
More than 1 allele at the same locus.
Polymorphism:-
The occurrence of more than 1 phenotype in a population that cannot be caused by mutations.
Sampling techniques:-
Quadrats
Transects
Sweep nets
Kick sampling in a stream.
Simpson’s diversity index:-
Gives value between 0 and 1. Higher value= higher biodiversity.
Molecular level assessing:-
Done using DNA sample fingerprinting and sequencing. Sometimes base sequence mutations occur, giving rise to non-coding sequences that give a unique DNA fingerprint. Can accumulate across generations, giving rise to a quite different DNA profile. Comparing these in different organisms shows how closely related they are. Greater difference= greater biodiversity.
DNA fingerprint/profile:-
Terms for a pattern unique for each individual, related to the base sequence of their DNA.