T1-3 - Introduction, Scientific Method, Taxonomy Flashcards
Conservation biology
the interdisciplinary movement to conserve biological diversity
Genetic diversity
The genetic variation within a population and between populations of a species.
Population
A group of indiivudals of the same species that live in the same area and interbreed, producing fertile offspring.
Why is genetic diversity important?
It provides the innovation of evolution.
Species diversity
The variety of the species of animals, plants, fungi, micro-organisms, of an area.
Ecosystem diversity
The variety of different habitats in a region
What is the benefit of biodiversity most direct to human benefit?
Provisioning services
define provisioning services of ecosystems and name some examples
The products directly obtained from nature
examples
* food
* raw materials
* medicines
* energy
* water
* genetic resources
What do we mean when we use genetic resources as provisioning services.
Improvement of products e.g. bross-bred wild crop genes improving crop resistance to drought, disease, pests.
Four benefits of biodiversity
- Provisioning services
- Regulating Services
- Supporting Services
- Cultural services
define regulating services of ecosystems and provide some examples
benefits beyond raw materials
examples
* climate regulation
* water/air purification
* pollination
* pest control
define supporting services of ecosystems and provide some examples
ecosystem services critial to biosphere viability
examples
* oxygen production
* CO2 absorption
* cycling of biomass
* nutrients and water
* habitat provision
define cultural services of ecosystems
intangible, non-material benefits from nature and ecosystems
examples:
* spiritual services/sacred spaces
What are the colloquial and the scientific definitions of “theory”?
Colloquial: hunch, speculation
Scientific: current accumulation, body of knowledge
define:
Inquiry
the search for information and explanation
Data vs. Facts
Data: recorded observations/items of information
Facts: Data that has been repeatedly confirmed by observation or experimentation
The basis of inductive reasoning is…
generalizations based on many specific observations
specific –> general
What are the colloquial and scientific definitions of hypothesis?
Colloquial: guess/idea about something uncertain
Scientific: ideas about questions that lead to testable nd falsifiable predictions
The basis of deductive reasoning is…
the use of general premises to make specific predictions (logic)
general –> specific
Taxonomy
the scientific discipline concerned with naming and classifying organisms
Nomenclature
the system of rules for naming things
Why is nomenclature important?
AKA what are some problems with common names?
- different names can be used for the same species
- same names can be used for different species
- common names might imply relationships that don’t exist
What are the two key fetures of the Linnaean System of Nomenclature?
- Hierarchical classification of species into groups based on structural, functional, and other similatirites
- Binomial nomenclature
Two parts of binomial names:
Genus specificepithet
Order of the Linnaean Hierarchy (the taxonomic ranks
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
define
Taxon
A taxonomic rank at a level of a hierarchical classification
Limitations of hierarchical classifications
- Characteristics that are used to classify groups of species must be tailored to the species in question
- no evolutionary information can be inferred
What are the three Domains?
bacteria, archaea, eukarya
Three kingdoms of Eukaryotes
plantae, fungi, animalia
