Species And Taxonomy Flashcards
What is the definition of a species?
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
True or False: All members of a species have identical genetic makeup.
False
What is taxonomy?
The science of classifying and naming organisms.
Fill in the blank: The two main components of a species name are the genus and the ______.
species epithet
What system did Carl Linnaeus develop for naming organisms?
Binomial nomenclature
Which taxonomic rank comes directly after kingdom?
Phylum
True or False: The scientific name of an organism is always italicized.
True
What are the five kingdoms in the classification system?
Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Monera
Which domain includes prokaryotic organisms?
Bacteria and Archaea
What is the primary purpose of a phylogenetic tree?
To show the evolutionary relationships among species.
Fill in the blank: Organisms that are closely related are placed in the same ______.
genus
What is the main difference between a species and a subspecies?
A subspecies is a distinct variation within a species, often geographically separated.
True or False: Hybrid organisms can be considered a separate species.
False
What is the role of a taxonomist?
To classify and name new species.
Which classification level is the most specific?
Species
Fill in the blank: The scientific name for humans is ______ sapiens.
Homo
What does the term ‘autotrophic’ refer to?
Organisms that produce their own food.
True or False: All fungi are classified as plants.
False
What is a dichotomous key used for?
To identify organisms based on a series of choices.
Which kingdom contains multicellular photosynthetic organisms?
Plantae
What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; eukaryotic cells have them.
Fill in the blank: The process of classifying organisms based on shared characteristics is called ______.
classification
True or False: All members of the same family share the same genus.
True
What is the term for a group of organisms that share a common ancestor?
Clade
Which taxonomic rank is higher than class?
Phylum
Fill in the blank: A ______ is a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships.
phylogenetic tree
What does the term ‘endemic’ mean in terms of species?
Species that are native to and found only in a specific geographic area.
Which classification system is based on evolutionary relationships?
Cladistics
True or False: Taxonomy is static and does not change over time.
False
What is the purpose of using Latin in scientific naming?
To provide a universal language for scientists.
Fill in the blank: The term for a group of similar species is called a ______.
genus
What is meant by ‘biological species concept’?
Species are defined by their ability to interbreed and produce viable offspring.
True or False: The family is the highest taxonomic rank.
False
What are the three domains of life?
Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
Fill in the blank: Organisms in the kingdom ______ are primarily decomposers.
Fungi
What does the term ‘sympatric speciation’ refer to?
The evolution of new species without physical separation.
True or False: All organisms in the kingdom Animalia are multicellular.
True
What role do phylogenetic trees play in taxonomy?
They help visualize the evolutionary history of organisms.
Fill in the blank: The ______ is the taxonomic rank just below kingdom.
phylum
What is the significance of the genus name in binomial nomenclature?
It indicates the group of closely related species.
True or False: Species can change over time due to evolution.
True
What is the difference between allopatric and sympatric speciation?
Allopatric speciation occurs with geographic separation; sympatric speciation occurs without it.
Fill in the blank: The classification of organisms is often referred to as ______.
systematics
What is a holotype?
The single physical example of an organism used to describe a species.
True or False: The family is more specific than the order in taxonomy.
True
What is a key feature of the domain Eukarya?
Organisms have complex cells with a nucleus.
Fill in the blank: The ______ is a taxonomic rank below order.
family
What does the term ‘convergent evolution’ mean?
When unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environments.
True or False: A species can be defined only by its physical characteristics.
False
What is the importance of genetic variation within a species?
It allows populations to adapt to changing environments.
Fill in the blank: The classification system used by biologists is hierarchical and includes domains, kingdoms, ______, classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
phyla
What is meant by ‘adaptive radiation’?
The rapid evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor.
True or False: Organisms within the same order are always in the same family.
True
What is the main criterion for classifying organisms into the same genus?
They must share a common ancestor and have similar characteristics.
Fill in the blank: The study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities is known as ______.
phylogenetics
What is the difference between a common name and a scientific name?
Common names vary by language and region; scientific names are standardized.
True or False: The taxonomic hierarchy is universally accepted and does not vary by discipline.
False
What is the significance of the species concept in biology?
It helps define and categorize biodiversity.
Fill in the blank: The classification of organisms helps scientists communicate about ______.
biodiversity
What is a paraphyletic group?
A group that includes an ancestor but not all of its descendants.
True or False: Taxonomy is solely based on morphological characteristics.
False
What is a polyphyletic group?
A group that includes members from different evolutionary lineages.
Fill in the blank: The process of naming organisms is known as ______.
nomenclature
What is the role of molecular techniques in taxonomy?
To analyze genetic relationships and clarify classifications.
True or False: The classification of organisms is based only on physical traits.
False
What is the purpose of a type specimen?
To serve as a reference point for the description of a species.
Fill in the blank: The taxonomic rank just above species is ______.
genus
What is the significance of genetic analysis in modern taxonomy?
It helps resolve ambiguities in classification and evolutionary relationships.
True or False: All organisms in the domain Eukarya are multicellular.
False
What is the primary focus of conservation biology?
To protect biodiversity and prevent species extinction.
Fill in the blank: The classification system is hierarchical, meaning it is structured in ______ levels.
nested
What is the term for the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographical space and through geological time?
Biogeography
True or False: The scientific community accepts that taxonomy can change with new discoveries.
True
What is the main criteria for defining a clade?
It must include an ancestor and all its descendants.
Fill in the blank: The concept of ______ refers to the role of an organism in its environment.
niche
What is the significance of the IUCN Red List?
It assesses the conservation status of species worldwide.
True or False: Hybridization can lead to new species formation.
True
What is the difference between ecological and biological species concepts?
Ecological focuses on niche and habitat; biological focuses on reproductive isolation.
Fill in the blank: The study of how species interact with one another and their environment is called ______.
ecology
What does the term ‘extinction’ refer to?
The end of an organism’s existence as a species.
True or False: Taxonomic classifications are permanent and do not change over time.
False
What is a key feature of organisms in the kingdom Monera?
They are unicellular and prokaryotic.
Fill in the blank: The classification of organisms into groups based on shared characteristics is known as ______.
taxonomy
