Exam I (supplement 2)

Question 1

What is biodiversity and what are the three kinds? is it useful? what are the other categories?

Answer 1

biodiversity: complete range of species and biological communities, as well as the genetic variation within species and all ecosystems processes.
- species diversity
- genetic diversity
- ecosystem diversity

useful: yes, gives more accurate representation of biological diversity within a region, community or population.
- example: ecosystem diversity vs. functional diversity = the role a species plays in a system

other categories

• ecological diversity
• trophic diversity

Question 2

Taxonomy

Answer 2

• science of classifying living things
• goal is to create a system of classifications that reflects the evolution of groups of species from their ancestors
• make sense of biodiversity

Question 3

Nested hierarchy and relatedness of organisms

Answer 3

species->genus->family->order->class->phylum->kingdom

relatedness of organisms: the more characteristics that organisms share, the more related they are. exclusion and inclusion

Question 4

Binomial nomenclature and problems with it

Answer 4

system of nomenclature in which two terms are used to denote a species of living organism, the first one indicating the genus and the second the specific epithet

problems: if a species has no close relatives, it may be the only species in its genus. a genus that is unrelated to any other genera may form its own family.

Question 5

What is a species? (three definitions)

Answer 5

1. a groups of individuals that is morphologically, physiologically, or biochemically distinct from other groups in some important characteristic (morphological definition)
2. a group of individuals that can potentially breed among themselves (reproductive isolation) int he wild and that do not bred with individuals of other groups (biological definition)
3. a group of individuals that share unique similarities of their DNA and hence their evolutionary past (evolutionary definition)

Question 6

Subspecies

Answer 6

refers to a unity of populations of a species living in a subdivision of the species’ global range and varies from other populations of the same species by morphological characteristics

infraspecies category: identifiable and distinct geographical region

Question 7

Phenotype

Answer 7

the morphological, physiological, anatomical and biochemical characteristics of the individual that results from the expression of its genotype in a particular environment

Question 8

Genotype

Answer 8

the particular combination of alleles that any individual possesses

Question 9

Heterozygous

Answer 9

individuals who receive the same allele of the gene from each parent

Question 10

Pleiotropy

Answer 10

single gene affects multiple traits

Question 11

Polygeny

Answer 11

single trait is affected by multiple genes

Question 12

Gene flow

Answer 12

individuals that occasionally move from one population to another, resulting in the transfer of new alleles and genetic combinations bt populations

Question 13

Evolution

Answer 13

genetic change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations, as a result of natural selection

Question 14

Population

Answer 14

all organisms of the same group or species, which live in a particular geographical area, and have the capability of interbreeding

Question 15

Community

Answer 15

the species that occupy a particular locality and the interaction among those species

Question 16

Ecosystem

Answer 16

a biological community together with its associated physical and chemical environment

Question 17

Biome

Answer 17

large naturally occuring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat

Question 18

Keystone species

Answer 18

particular species or group of species with similar ecological features that may determine the ability of large numbers of other species to persist in the community

Question 19

Carrying capacity

Answer 19

the number that the resources of an ecosystem can support

Question 20

Succession

Answer 20

the gradual process of change over time in species composition, community structure, soil chemistry, nd microclimatic characteristics that occur following natural and human-caused disturbance in an ecosystem

Question 21

Symbioses

Answer 21

interactions between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both

Question 22

Guilds

Answer 22

species at the same trophic level that use approximately the same environmental resources

Question 23

Ecological community organization

Answer 23

1. primary producers-photosynthetic species
2. primary consumers-herbivores
3. secondary consumers-carnivores or predators (omnivores)
4. decomposers-detritivores
5. disease causing organisms

Question 24

Food chain

Answer 24

specific feeding relationships

Question 25

Food web

Answer 25

when species are linked together through complex feeding relationships

Question 26

Top-down forces

Answer 26

focuses on interactions at top level consumers (predators) and their prey influence on lower trophic forms

Question 27

Bottom-up forces

Answer 27

concentrates attention on how resources (space nutrients) influence higher trophic forms

Question 28

Alpha biodiversity

Answer 28

the number of species in a certain community or designated area, “mean” species per region

Question 29

Gamma biodiversity

Answer 29

refers to the number of species in a large region or on a continent

-allows us to compare large areas that encompass diverse landscapes or wide geographical areas

Question 30

Beta biodiversity

Answer 30

represents the rate of change of species composition along an environmental or geographical gradient

-gamma divided by alpha