Species and taxonomy

Question 1

What is a species?

Answer 1

Two organisms belong to the same species if they are able to produce fertile offspring.

Question 2

What is courtship?

Answer 2

Courtship behaviour as a necessary precursor to successful mating. The role of courtship in species recognition.

Question 3

What two things are used in an organisms name?

Answer 3

Each species is universally identified by a binomial consisting of the name of its genus and species, eg, Homo sapiens.

Question 4

What is the order of the hierarchy of classification?

Answer 4

One hierarchy comprises the taxa: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.

Question 5

Anagram for the order of classification?

Answer 5

Domain first always
Keep (Kingdom)
Pond (Phylum)
Clean (Class)
Or (Order)
Frogs (Family)
Get (Genus)
Sick (Species)

Question 6

What is directional selection?

Answer 6

Directional selection is a selection where the organisms with a certain characteristic (eg big nose) help them survive better than others of the same species

Question 7

What is stabilising selection?

Answer 7

Stabilising selection is when the middle range organisms in its species are more likely to survive. The ones with the most abnormal characteristics do not survive.

Question 8

Example of stabilising selection? Plants

Answer 8

If a plant is too short it will not be able to compete for sunlight with other plants in the area however if it is too tall it will be more susceptible to wind damage and is more likely to die. The medium ones will do the best.

Question 9

Example of directional selection? Lobsters

Answer 9

In Lobsters food and mates come down to being able to fight off competition. This is chosen by size and so the larger the lobster the better it will do in survival.

Question 10

What are the 5 kingdoms?

Answer 10

Animals
Plants 
Fungi 
Prototists
Bacteria

Question 11

What was Carl Woese system?

Answer 11

3 domains
Eukaryota
Archea
Bacteria

Question 12

How do we classify organisms?

Answer 12

• Anatomical structure
• Patterns of embryonic development
• Molecular techniques - DNA and proteins

Question 13

What is the definition of a species?

Answer 13

A group of individuals that have observable similarities and can produce fertile offspring

Question 14

What is the hierarchy?

Answer 14

The placing of smaller groups within larger groups with no overlap between them.

Question 15

What is the phylogenetic classification system?

Answer 15

It is a system of classification based on evolutionary origins and relationships.

Question 16

3 ways of mating rituals?

Answer 16

Visual: Using colours
Behaviour: Dances or building nests
Pheromones: Chemicals released by an organism enabling it to communicate with other members of its own species.