Definitions

Question 1

Biodiversity hotspot

Answer 1

A region with numerous endemic/native species and a large number of endangered and threatened species. Contains at least 1500 species of endemic vascular plants found nowhere else. Have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation.

Question 1

Biodiversity

Answer 1

The variety of all life at a genetic, species and ecosystem level.

Question 2

Species

Answer 2

A group of morphologically similar organisms that share a gene pool; members of the same species are able to interbreed under natural conditions to produce viable and fertile offspring.

Question 3

Biological species concept

Answer 3

A species is a group of organisms who are able to interbreed in nature to produce viable, fertile offspring.

Question 4

Phylogenetic species concept

Answer 4

Identifies a species as being the smallest group of organisms who can all trace their origins to a single common ancestor.

Question 5

Biosphere

Answer 5

The sum of all ecosystems across the world.

Question 6

Biome

Answer 6

Regions of the world with similar climates, animals and plants.

Question 7

Topography

Answer 7

The arrangement of physical features, both natural and artificial, of an area.

Question 8

Habitat

Answer 8

An area or environment within an ecosystem where an individual of a species lives, feeds and reproduces.

Question 9

Population

Answer 9

A group of individuals belonging to the same species, living in the same habitat at the same time.

Question 10

Ecosystem

Answer 10

A community (biotic factors), its environment (abiotic factors) and the interactions between them.

Question 11

Community

Answer 11

The interacting populations of different species inhabiting an area at one particular time.

Question 12

Environment

Answer 12

Abiotic and biotic factors of an area.

Question 13

Random distribution

Answer 13

Organisms are spaced irregularly; the location of one organism does not affect the location of another.

Question 14

Uniform distribution

Answer 14

Organisms are evenly spaced; the presence of one organism determines how close or distant another will be.

Question 15

Morphological species concept

Answer 15

Characterizes a species based on physical characteristics and features.

Question 16

Clumped distribution

Answer 16

A number of individuals are grouped together and the groups make up the population as a whole.

Question 17

Energy

Answer 17

The capacity to cause change, particularly to do work.

Question 18

Biogeochemical cycle

Answer 18

The pathway of matter through the living components and non-living components of an ecosystem.

Question 19

Autotrophs

Answer 19

Also known as producers, they can synthesize organic compounds e.g. nucleic acids, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, from inorganic raw materials.

Question 20

Heterotrophs

Answer 20

Also known as consumers; organisms that cannot synthesize their own organic compounds (food) from inorganic materials.

Question 21

Biomass

Answer 21

The total mass of biological matter (living or dead) in a given area, at the time of measurement, that can be used as an energy source.

Question 22

ATP

Answer 22

Adenosine triphosphate

Question 23

10% rule in ecology

Answer 23

Only about 10% of the energy at one trophic level is passed onto the next level.

Question 24

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 24

Removal of nitrogen from the atmosphere due to the metabolic activities of specialized bacteria and converting it into nitrates (NO3) and nitrites (NO2)

Question 25

Ammonifiers

Answer 25

Bacteria break down waste and dead organisms to produce ammonium NH4

Question 26

Nitrifiers 1

Answer 26

Bacteria that convert NH3 into nitrites NO2

Question 27

Nitrifiers 2

Answer 27

Bacteria that convert NO2 into nitrates NO3

Question 28

Denitrifying

Answer 28

Bacteria that convert NO3 into nitrogen gas N2

Question 29

Nitrogen fixers

Answer 29

Bacteria that convert N2 into ammonium ions NH4

Question 30

Ecological niche

Answer 30

The way in which species function within their environment e.g. the time they feed, what they feed on, where they live and where they reproduce.

Question 31

Fundamental niche

Answer 31

The ideal niche a species would occupy if there were no competitors, predators or parasites.

Question 32

Competitive exclusion principle

Answer 32

No 2 species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for an extended period of time.

Question 33

Succession

Answer 33

A process of change in community composition and structure, usually towards the establishment of a stable ecosystem.