Introducing Biological Diversity Flashcards
Property of matter resulting from coupled cycling of bioelements in aqueous solution
Driven by radiant energy.
Manifested in a great diversity but the characteristics are true for all.
Progresses towards increasing complexity
Life
Unifying features of life
- Living organisms are made up of bioelements
- Dependent on water
- Occurs in the presence of coupled cycling nutrients
- Occurs in the presence of a flow of energy.
- Orderly
- Adapts to a changing environment
Basic bioelements
Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur
Biomolecules
combination of bioelements
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acid
Carbon skeleton of biomolecules
sugar, amino acids/proteins, ATP, DNA Phospholipid
Crucial for the occurrence of biochemical reaction
Take up to 90% of fluids (10% solute) found in living things
Water
Types of biogeochemical cycles
carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, water cycle
Three spheres of earth
lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere
Interaction between three spheres of earth and life
Biosphere
Pathways by which chemical elements and compounds move between living organisms and environment.
Biogeochemical cycles
Energy flow
unidirectional
Radiant energy—Chemical energy—Heat energy
ultimate source of energy for the biosphere
Sun; through photosynthesis
Chemical energy moves within the biosphere
Assimilation
Heat energy is lost
Respiration
Organisms respond to change by changing themselves in order to survive and cope with the changing environment.
Adaptation and evolution
Animal eats worms, nematodes, and worm-like creatures
vermivorous diet
Change in frequency of genes in populations through time
Evolutionary Change
Developmental change in an individual in its lifetime
Ontogenetic Change
Seasonal change in populations in succession of communities
Ecological change
Change in structure and amount of genetic material (DNA)
Mutation
Random changes in small populations
Genetic drift
Mechanisms that produce evolutionary changes
- Mutation
- Genetic Drift
- Natural Selection
- Gene Flow
Differential reproductive success that results to inheritance of favorable traits in succeeding generation
Natural selection
Transfer or flow of genes within a population, or in cases with more than one local or geographically defined population, from one population to another.
Gene Flow
