Topic 4 - Species And Taxonomy Flashcards
What is courtship behaviour?
A set of behaviours displayed before meeting that helped to ensure reproductive success.
What things does courtship behaviour enable individuals to do?
- Recognise members of their own species - prevents into breeding and insures offspring are fertile and viable.
- Synchronise mating - mating occurs when both individuals are ready to reproduce.
- Form a pair bond.- strengthens the relationships between individuals which can improve the likelihood of successful mating.
- Assess the fitness of a mate - displayed during courtship can indicate their health and genetic quality of a potential mate.
- Enable breeding - prepares individuals physiologically for reproduction by triggering the release of reproductive hormones.
What are three examples of courtship behaviours?
Birds: perform elaborate dances or sing specific songs to attract mates.
Insects: some insects such as crickets produce courtship sounds or vibration.
Fish: male fish may construct nest or perform specific swimming patterns.
What is the importance of species recognition?
Courtship behaviour is species specific members of the same species can recognise their own species signalling. This is key for preventing wasted reproductive efforts.
What is classification of species?
Organising and naming organisms into groups based on their characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
What is the hierarchical classification system in order?
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
What are the five kingdoms?
Animalia
Plantae
Fungi
Prokaryote
Protoctista
What is the binomial naming system?
Organisms are given to Latin names in order to make it the same across the universe:
- Genius (capitalised)
- Then species (lowercase)
Example: Homo sapiens
What is phylogenetic classification?
Find genetics is the study of evolutionary relationships between organisms. This system uses common ancestors and shared characteristics to a group organisms.
What is molecular phylogeny?
DNA and RNA and protein sequences are compared to assess the genetic similarities and differences between organisms the more similar sequence the more closely related the organism.
What are phylogenetic trees?
Show the evolutionary relationships between species branch points represent common ancestors and the closer two species are on the tree more closely related there are.
What are the three domains?
Bacteria
Archaea
Eukaryota
What is meant by domain?
The highest taxonomic rank
The three domains : bacteria, archaea and eukaryota.
What is meant by by kingdom?
The second broadest group
Animalia, plantae, fungi, prokaryote and Protoctista.
What is meant by phylum?
Groups organisms based on their basic body plan.
E.g. animals with a backbone
What are the features of a hierarchy?
Non-overlapping groups – each organism fits into only one group at each level.
Ordered from broad to specific – from domain down to species.
