Topic 1: Classification and Biodiversity Flashcards
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What are the 7 levels of classification?
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
What is a vertebrate?
An animal with a backbone.
What is an invertebrate?
An animal with no backbone.
What are the two broad groups of animals?
Vertebrates and invertebrates.
What are the two broad groups of plants?
Flowering and non-flowering.
What is a flowering plant?
A plant that produces flowers for reproduction.
What is a non-flowering plant?
Plants reproduces using spores.
What are the two types of living organisms?
Plants and animals.
What are the 5 kingdoms?
Animal, plant, fungi, single-celled organisms, bacteria.
Why are scientific names used?
To avoid confusion between languages and they can be used internationally. Universal.
What is a morphological adaption?
Structural adaptions of the organisms.
What are some examples of morphological adaptions?
Colour of fur, leg length, petal shape, reduced size of appendix…
What are behavioural adaptions?
The behaviour of an organism.
Mostly in animals and not plants
What are some examples of behavioural adaptions?
The time of day an animal is active, the typesof food it eats…
Why are adaptions important?
It makes organisms more suited to their environment which helps them to survive and reproduce (as they can outcompete other individuals).
Resources needed for living things:
What is light needed by?
Plants to make food for energy.
Resources needed for living things:
What is food needed by?
Animals for energy.
Resources needed for living things:
What is water needed by?
All living organisms for chemical reactions that take place in cells.
Resources needed for living things:
What is oxygen needed by?
All living organisms that respire aerobically, to break down food and release its energy.
Resources needed for living things:
What is carbon dioxide needed by?
Plants for photosynthesis.
Resources needed for living things:
What are minerals needed by?
All living organisms for chemical reactions that take place in cells.
What does competition do to a population?
Puts a limit on the size of the population.
What are 4 things animals compete for?
Mates
Space
Food
Water
What are 4 things plants compete for?
Light
Water
Minerals
Space
What 3 things contribute to the death rate of a group?
Predation, pollution and disease.
Where does competition mainly take place?
Within the same species - they need the same resources.
What is predation?
The preying of one animal on others.
What are the 2 different types of competition in an ecosystem?
Interspecific and intraspecific competition.
What is interspecific competition?
Organisms of different species compete for resources.
What is intraspecific competition?
Organisms of the same species compete for resources.
Why is competition important and what does it lead to?
Necessary when resources are limited, leads to evolution by natural selection.
What is the binomial system? (The two…)
The two parts of a name. Genus and species.
What is biodiversity?
The number of different species in a particular area.
Why is biodiversity important?
- different organisms can provide food or useful industrial materials.
- Some animals or plants may have useful medicinal properties.
- Ecotourism benefits communities.
What are 3 ways to maintain biodiversity?
breeding and release programmes
active conservation of habitats
controlling invasive species
What are captive breeding programmes?
plans to help ensure the survival of a species by encouraging existing members of that species to breed together in enlcosures/zoos.
What is an invasive species?
A species whose numbers grow faster than the native species.
What is an alien species?
A species which is not native to a particular region/country.
What is biological control?
The control of a pest by the introduction of a natural enemy/predator.
What is the difference between conservation and preservation?
- Conservation is the sustainable and active management of an ecosystem.
- Preservation aims to maintain an ecosystem in its current state.
What is a quadrat?
A square made of wire, in which you measure the biodiversity of plants
What is a quadrat used for?
A tool used to record the different plant species in a habitat.
How to calculate population size of a particular area? (equation)
Example:
total grass plants found in sample x total area / total area sampled
What is a transect?
A line across a habitat or part of a habitat. (String/ rope)
What is a transect used for?
Investigate a gradual change in a habitat. (Not just the number of organisms within it)
What is the capture/recapture technique used for?
It is used to estimate the population size of an animal species. (Better than quadrat method)
What is the method of capture/recapture?
- animals are captured, eg using pitfall traps
- they are counted and marked in a harmless, inconspicuous way and then released
- traps are used again a few days later to recapture a sample of animals
- the numbers of marked and unmarked animals caught in the traps are recorded
What is the equation for capture/recapture technique?
Number found in 1st sample x number found in 2nd sample / number found in 2nd sample which were already marked
