Topic 4C: Diversity and Classification Flashcards
1
Q
Define phylogeny
A
- The study of the evolutionary history of groups of organisms
2
Q
What are phylogenetic trees and what do they show?
A
- Show common ancestor - each branch
- More closely related organisms have a more recent common ancestor
3
Q
Define taxonomy
A
- The science of classification
4
Q
How is taxonomy used?
A
- Organises organisms into groups - taxa
- These are arranged into a hierarchy of largest to smallest groups
- Organisms can only belong to one group in each level with no overlap
5
Q
What are the groups used?
A
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
6
Q
What is the binomial system?
A
- Organisms known by their genus and species name
7
Q
Why is the binomial system used?
A
- To allow standard communication regardless of language
8
Q
How are binomial names written?
A
- Italics if typed
- Underlined if handwritten
- Genus has capital letter
- Species has lowercase letter
9
Q
What are courtship behaviours?
A
- Behaviours used by organisms to attract a mate
10
Q
Give examples of simple courtship behaviours
A
- Releasing chemicals - male bees release pheromones
- Sound - male red deer roar
- Visual displays - Great tits puff out their chest
11
Q
Give examples of complex courtship behaviours
A
- Dancing - blue footed boobies perform a complex dance to show off their blue feet
- Building - bowerbirds make bowers
12
Q
How are courtship behaviours used in classification?
A
- Are specific to a species
- Are used to prevent interbreeding to produce fertile offspring
- More closely related species have more similar behaviours
13
Q
What is genome sequencing?
A
- More closely related organisms have more similar DNA sequences - analyse and compare
14
Q
Describe amino acid sequencing
A
- Amino acids are coded for by DNA sequences
- Related organisms will have similar DNA sequences ad so similar amino acid sequences
15
Q
How do immunological comparisons work?
A
- Similar proteins will bind to the same antibodies
- E.g. If a human antibody is added to samples from another species - any protein like the human version will also bind to the antibody
16
Q
How does variation occur?
A
- Genetics - have different genes or alleles
- Environment - e.g. climate, food, lifestyle
- Combination - e.g. genes determine how tall an organism could grow but food availability determines how tall it actually grows
17
Q
Define biodiversity
A
- Variety of living organisms in an area
18
Q
What are local and global biodiversity?
A
- Local - a small habitat e.g. garden, meadow, pond
- Global - the variety of species in the world
19
Q
What is a habitat?
A
- Place an organism lives
20
Q
What is a community?
A
- All the populations of different species in a habitat
21
Q
Define species richness
A
- Measure of different species in a community
22
Q
How is agriculture damaging biodiversity?
A
- Woodland clearance and hedgerow removal - for inc farmland –> removes habitat, shelter, food sources
- Pesticides - kill organisms that feed on crops
- Herbicides - kill weeds –> kill the plants and remove them as a food source
- Monoculture - only farm one type of plant –> supports less organisms
23
Q
How are conservation schemes being used to increase biodiversity?
A
- Legal protection for endangered species
- Protected areas - prevents further development
- Encourage farmers to plant hedgerows or leave margins around fields for wildflowers to grow
