describing biodiversity - biodiversity

Question 1

biology

Answer 1

study of living things, including humans and how they interact with other living & non-living things

Question 2

biodiversity

Answer 2

describes the variety of life that inhabits our biosphere. the number, variety & variable of organisms present in an area

Question 3

biosphere

Answer 3

all the environments on earth that organisms inhabit; the combined sum of earth’s ecosystems

Question 4

biodiversity hotspot

Answer 4

relatively small area with numerous endemic (native) species and a large number of endangered/threatened species. to qualify an area must:
1. contain at least 1500 species of vascular plants found nowhere else on earth
2. must have lost at least 70% of its primary native vegetation

Question 5

gene

Answer 5

section of DNA in a chromosome that encodes an instruction, usually for a specific protein which when expressed may affect a certain characteristic. genes are inherited by offspring and can come in different forms. a higher number of different forms of a gene in the species consists a higher genetic diversity for that species

Question 6

gene pool

Answer 6

sum of all the genes, including all different forms in a given population of the species; sometimes it is also used to refer to all the genes in a species

Question 7

species

Answer 7

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 & fertile offspring

Question 8

ecosystem

Answer 8

all organisms in a particular area, along with the non-living components of their environment, and all their interactions. a self sustaining unit, ecosystems can vary greatly depending on abiotic & biotic factors

Question 9

ecosystem services

Answer 9

services that are provided via the ecosystem, via ecosystem functions

Question 10

provisioning services

Answer 10

products gained from ecosystems. food, fibre & fuel, genetic resources, biochemicals, fresh water

Question 11

cultural services

Answer 11

non-material benefits people gain from ecosystems. spiritual & religious values, knowledge system, education & inspiration, recreation & aesthetic values, source of place

Question 12

supporting services

Answer 12

ecosystem services necessary for the production of other ecosystem services. primary production, provision of habitat, nutrient cycling, soil information & retention, water cycling

Question 13

regulating services

Answer 13

benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystems. herbivory, pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, pest regulation, disease regulation

Question 14

biological species

Answer 14

a group of organisms who are able to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring

Question 15

morphological species

Answer 15

a concept that characterises a species by structural form - its morphology

Question 16

phylogenic species

Answer 16

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

Question 17

spatial vs temporal measuring of biodiversity

Answer 17

spatial scales - space being occupied, distribution of individuals in a species
temporal scales - refers to time, provides details in a certain area over a certain time period

Question 18

hybrid

Answer 18

an organism that is the result of interbreeding between two species, that expresses characteristics of both sides