Topic- yass Flashcards
Give three ways human activity is impacting biodiversity (with examples)
Habitat destruction – e.g. deforestation for urban development and agricultural land, global warming, mining, war/conflict
Overexploitation – e.g. whaling, fishing and wildlife trade
Competition from introduced species – e.g. grey vs. red squirrels in the UK, the Nile perch vs. cichlid fish in Lake Victoria, Uganda
Pollution – e.g. micro-plastics in aquatic environments
Give three reasons why humans should preserve biodiversity (with explanations)
Ethical reasons – Humans should be responsible for the protection of the natural environment. Biodiversity should be preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations
Aesthetic reasons – Many people take pleasure in walking in, or simply looking at, rich, diverse ecosystems
Economic reasons – Zoos, safari parks and other conservation sites attract tourists and can impact on local and national economies
Practical reasons – Many species provide humans with useful products and therefore have a practical, as well an economic, value
Ecological reasons – Habitat loss can therefore have a dramatic ecological effect
Define the term species
species is a group of organisms with similar morphology [appearance], physiology and behaviour, which can interbreed to produce fertile offspring,
Explain why understanding a species’ niche enables more successful conservation of that species (you can use a specific species example if this helps your explanation)
- can find out why the population is declining
can set up breeding programs
Give the definition of a species niche
Niche = the role of an organism in it’s environment and the way in which organism exploits its environment
Define the following adaptations: behavioural, anatomical and physiological. Give specific examples for each
- Behavioural: actions carried out by organism
- Physiological: internal body process within the cell, or tissues, for an organism to survive in the environment
- Anatomical: structures that can be seen when we observe/dissect an organism
Flour beetle
Decide if you are looking for:
State the 3 domains of classification
- eukaryotic
-prokaryotic
-Archaea
Explain what is meant by molecular phylogeny
an evolutionary tree measuring the difference between species in
DNA
mRNA
Protiens
Explain how molecular phylogeny enables organisms to be classified and evolutionary relationships to be identified
classifise on a molecular level instead of physical traits
can identify common ancestor and estimate how far back in evolutionary history
What is meant by the term ‘peer review’?
another scientist at a similar education level and in the same field critiquing research
List how scientists can communicate their findings to the general public and to the scientific community
scientific journals
conferences
define gene pool
All the alleles present in a population
give the definition of evolution
A change in allele frequency in a population over time
Give the conditions necessary for evolution to take place
Variation – There must be genetic differences between the individuals in a population. Meiosis and mutations provide this
⚫ Heredity – The genetic differences between organisms must be heritable
⚫ Means of selection – There must be a mechanism or pressure that selects some variables for the next generation at the expense of others.
Explain the generic principles evolution via natural selection (typical 4/5 marker, note that exam questions will provide a context in which you should frame your answer)
1) Random mutation provides genetic variation
2) Selection/evolutionary pressure occurs
3) Previously unadvantageous allele becomes advantageous
4) Organisms with advantageous allele are more likely to survive and reproduce
5) Frequency of advantageous allele increases in population
Natural selection in action
