Ecosystems & Population Change Flashcards
What is a biosphere?
The largest possible ecosystem that encompasses everywhere on earth where living things can be found
What is a niche?
An organisms specific role in the environment
What is a population?
Organisms that belong to the same species and live together
What is a species?
A group of organisms that are capable of breeding, and producing offspring who can also reproduce
What is taxonomy?
The practice of classifying living things
What is a domain?
A large group that encompasses all of the kingdoms of different organisms
What is binomial nomenclature?
A naming system used to identify different species. Each organisms is referred to through its genus and species
what are the 8 levels of classification?
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
What is latitude?
The distance of a place away from the equator
What is altitude?
The height of a place above sea level
How are biomes identified and why?
Through their annual temperatures and precipitation levels. Biomes are identified this way because these two factors can determine the abundance of organisms
What is an ecotone?
Areas of overlap between nearby biomes, since no biome has a fixed barrier
What is a habitat?
An area that is suitable to the requirments of specific organisms
What is a species range?
The geographical area in which a certain species can be found
What is biotic potential?
The maximum number of offspring that a population could produce if they happened to have unlimited resources
What is carrying capacity?
The maximum number of individuals in a population that are able to be supported by an ecosystem
What are density independent factors?
They affect members of a population, no matter how big or small it is (precipitation, climate, etc.)
What are density dependent factors?
Factors that affect a population because of the actual size of that particular population (competition, disease, producers)
What are limiting factors?
The factor that limits a populations growth by either slowing it or stopping it completely. Limiting factors can be abiotic and biotic
What are abiotic limiting factors?
Space, temperature, available sunlight
What are biotic limiting factors?
Lack of producers, predation, parasitism
What is interspecific competition?
Competition that occurs between members of different species that are occupying the same niche
What are the six most common kingdoms?
1) Eubacteria: simple organisms with no nucleus
2) Archaebacteria: no nucleus, heterotrophs
3) Protista: single celled organisms that produce sexually and asexually
4) Fungi: multicellular
5) Plantae:
multicellular
6) Animalia: multicellular
What are the different types of adaptations?
Structural (long giraffe neck), behavioural (mating calls), functional (shivering)
Where do adaptations come from?
Gradual change and variations amongst organisms. Adaptations can also stem from mutations
What is natural selection (Charles Darwin)
Natural selection is an evolution theory proposed by Charles Darwin. Natural selection is based on an entire population changing over time due to their survival needs. More well known as survival of the fittest.
What is Lamarcks theory on evolution?
Lamarck proposed that it is the individual that changes in its lifetime, due to an intense ‘want’ or ‘need’ of a certain adaptation. His theory is not very reliable
What are some pieces of evidence that indicate that evolution actually happened?
Fossils, distribution/biogeography, anatomy, embryology, molecular biology, genetics
What is a homologous structure?
A structure that has the same layout and origin as another one. They may not perform the same function, but their ancestor is common/the same
What is an analogous structure?
A structure that has the same function as another, but does not share a common ancestor. (Venus flytrap and human mouth)
How do sexual and asexual reproduction contribute to variation?
Organisms that use asexual reproduction will have very little inherited variation because most of the time they make clones of themselves. Organisms that use sexual reproduction are more likely to have variation since the genes from both parents are going in to the process
What is transformation?
When a new species gradually develops as a result of mutation. The old species is replaced over time
What is divergence?
When one or more species arise from a parent species that continues to exist (Darwins finches)
What is allopatric speciation?
Physical separation of organisms, leaving them no oppourtunity to reproduce with one another. If the barriers are present for long enough, speciation will occur
What is sympatric speciation?
Sympatric speciation is when an organisms behavioural traits separate them from reproducing with another organism. Behavioural traits could include one organism being nocturnal and the other not.
What is gradualism?
Evolution that occurs very slowly. Small changes build over long periods of time
What is punctuated equilibrium?
When there are long periods of time with little to no change (evolution), followed by rapid major changes.
