Module 2 Flashcards
Conserving species
What is Taxonomy
classification, description and naming of organisms
Linneaus crested binomial & hierachial classification. How is binomial structurured?
First Genus, then Species. E.g. Dasyurus hallucatus which is the northern quoll.
Names ending in ‘idae’ generally refers to?
Family
List a basic structure of Hierarchical classification.
Species (Dasyurus hallucatus), Genus (Dasyurus), Family (Dasyuridae), Order (Dasyuromorpha), Class (Mammalia), Phylum (Chordata), kingdom (Animalia), Domain (Eukarya)
What does a taxon (plural taxa) refer to?
A named taxonomic unit in any level
of the hierarchy– Species, Genus, Family, Order, etc… these are all taxa
Describe evolution
- Evolution explains patterns of unity and diversity in living organisms.
- Similar traits among organisms are explained by descent from common ancestors
- Differences among organisms are explained by the accumulation of heritable changes
Describe Natural selection
The overrriding mechanism/process of evolution, which is behind Darwin’s “descent
with modification”
What are traits?
- Traits are characters such as colour, limb length, size, speed, longevity.
- Traits are derived from genes, but more than one gene is usually associated with each trait
What is the difference, homology & analogy?
Similarity arising from common ancestry is referred to as homology.
Similarity arsing from convergent evolution results in analogy.
Describe adaptation?
Adaptation refers to inherited characteristics (= traits) of organisms that enhance their survival and reproduction in specific environments, and has arisen as a result of
natural selection.
Give some examples of convergent evolution?
Flying fox (mammal) & magpie (bird) - both have wings & can fly.
Thylacine (marsupial) & grey wolf (placental) - both similar size and similar traits carnivourous mammals.
What is the biological species concept?
A species includes members of populations that actually or potentially interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring.
Mention 2 other species concepts apart from biological?
- Morphological species concept
* Distinguishes species by body shape and other structural
features
* Important in palaeontology - Phylogenetic species concept
* Smallest group of organisms that share a common ancestor
* Phylogenetic history can be traced using a range of traits (morphology, molecular data, etc)
What is phenotype & genotype?
Phenotype: An organism’s appearance or observable traits
Genotype: An organism’s genetic makeup (i.e., its DNA)
What are life history traits?
They relate to an organism’s physiology or behaviour that could influence its survival
* e.g., offspring – how often does the organism reproduce; in what numbers?
* e.g., parental care — how much care is needed to ensure offspring survival?