Lecture Notes

Question 1

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem

Answer 1

biodiversity

Question 2

a basic unit of biological classification and taxonomic rank

Answer 2

species

Question 3

individuals that interbreed in the wild to produce viable, fertile offspring are members of the same species

Answer 3

biological species concept

Question 4

individuals are grouped into species based on morphological/physiological similarities

Answer 4

morphological species concept

Question 5

a species is the smallest group of populations that can be distinguished by a unique set of traits, determined genetically

Answer 5

phylogenetic species concept

Question 6

species that previously had been lumped together and can now be distinguished only through genetic analysis

Answer 6

cryptic species

Question 7

factors that can vary in space and time, but aren’t used up or made unavailable to other species

Answer 7

conditions

Question 8

any factors (biotic or abiotic) that are used up or consumed by organisms

Answer 8

resources

Question 9

the specific environment or place in which an organism is biologically adapted to live

Answer 9

habitat

Question 10

the specific role that each species plays in the ecosystem where it is found

Answer 10

niche

Question 11

normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem

Answer 11

native species

Question 12

migrate into, or be introduced into, an ecosystem (alien, exotic, invasive)

Answer 12

nonnative species

Question 13

provide early warnings of damage to a community or ecosystem

Answer 13

indicator species

Question 14

species whose role has a large effect on types and abundance of other species in ecosystem

Answer 14

keystone species

Question 15

whenever energy is converted from one form to another, no energy is created or destroyed

Answer 15

first law of thermodynamics, the law of conservation of energy

Question 16

a top level predator with no natural predator of their own

Answer 16

apex predator

Question 17

occurs when the impact of a predator on its prey affects one or more feeding or trophic levels

Answer 17

trophic cascade

Question 18

so few individual survivors that the species could soon become extinct

Answer 18

endangered

Question 19

still has enough remaining individuals to survive in the short term, but because of declining numbers, it is likely to become endangered in the near future

Answer 19

threatened

Question 20

a species is no longer found in an area it once inhabited, but is still found elsewhere

Answer 20

local extinction

Question 21

so few members of a species are left that the species can no longer play its ecological role in the biological communities where it is found

Answer 21

ecological extinction

Question 22

so few members of a species are left that the population is no longer viable

Answer 22

functional extinction

Question 23

when a species can no longer be found anywhere on the earth; this is forever and represents an irreversible loss of natural capital

Answer 23

biological extinction

Question 24

a low average rate of extinction that has persisted throughout most of history of life on earth

Answer 24

background extinction rate

Question 25

the significant rise in extinction rate about the background level

Answer 25

mass extinction

Question 26

organisms that have been rediscovered as being still alive after having been widely considered extinct for years

Answer 26

Lazarus species

Question 27

goods provided by nature that humans use as food, fuel, drinking water, building materials, and medicines

Answer 27

provisioning services

Question 28

services that control natural processes in ways that are favorable to humans

Answer 28

regulating services

Question 29

nonmaterial benefits people obtain from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, and aesthetic experiences

Answer 29

cultural services

Question 30

the services that allow for the other ecosystem services to be present and functioning

Answer 30

supporting services