U2T5 - Biodiversity Flashcards
What are the 3 main components of biodiversity?
Species diversity, ecosystem/habitat diversity + genetic diversity.
What is biodiversity often used for?
To measure the health of biological systems.
What is the simpson’s diversity index equation?
D = Σn1(n1-1)/N(N-1)
What do the components of simpson’s diversity index equation mean?
Σ = sum of n1 = num individuals in first species N = total num individuals (all species)
What is the range of simpson’s diversity index? What does this mean?
0 to 1. Closer to 0 means more diverse, closer to 1 means less diverse.
What might low species diversity suggest?
Few successful species in habitat, stressful environment with few ecological niches, simple food webs, change in environment would have series effects.
What might high species diversity suggest?
Many successful species w/ stable ecosystem, more ecological niches, complex food webs, environmental change less damaging to entire ecosystem.
Why might lack of genetic diversity be an issue?
Species may not have sufficient adaptability + not able to survive environmental hazard. e.g. Potato Famine
Why might simpsons index be lower under a hedge than in a wheat field?
Num insects under hedge more evenly spread, more niches for insects in vegetation under hedge + chemicals are more likely to be used in the wheat/
State the role of an EIA as part of a local planning decision.
Endangered species need protection, planning stipulation (species translocation) + biodiversity values may show need for conservation.
Why might conservationists object to an EIA?
Damage to environment, disturbance to animals in area + habitats best left alone.
Who developed the binomial system of classification?
Carl Linnaeus
What are the 2 names in the binomial system of classification?
Generic name which indicates species genus + specific name which indicates species organism belongs to.
What is the binomial name of humans?
Homo sapiens
What are the 2 things that taxonomy uses?
Nomenclature + systematics.
How are species organised in taxonomy?
Groups of increasing size.
What are the 7 taxons in order of decreasing size?
Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus + species. (King Prawn Curry Or Fat Greasy Sausages)
How can you shorten the binomial name of species.
Homo sapiens -> H. sapiens
Before defining a species in the present day, what will taxonomists look at? (Techniques to establish phylogeny)
Morphology, anatomy, cell structure + biochemistry.
Organisms with a high degree of similarity in DNA, RNA + protein sequences are ______ closely related than those with dissimilar sequences.
More.
Why has phylogenic classification advanced?
Due to greater understanding of evolutionary development + advance in technology.
Describe a phylogenic tree? (Root/branch)
Root = ancestral lineage + branch tips + descendents of ancestor. As you move from root to tip, you move forward in time.
Phylogenic trees:
What does it mean when a lineage splits?
Speciation, Represented as branching on a phylogeny. When a speciation event occurs, a single ancestral lineage gives rise to 2+ daughter lineages.
What do phylogenies do?
Trace patterns of shared ancestry between lineages. Each has a part of its history + ancestors which are unique to it + parts/ancestors that are shared with other lineages.
What are the 5 kingdoms?
Prokaryotes, protoctista, fungi, plantae + animalia.
What are the 3 levels of cellular organisation?
Prokaryotic, eukaryotic unicellular (protoctistians) + eukaryotic multicellular. (some protoctistans, fungi, animalia + plantae)
What are some of the defining features of prokaryotes? (e.g. bacteria, cyanobacteria, blue green algae)
No membrane bound organelles, no nucleus, naked circular DNA, 70S ribosomes, plasmids, most peptidoglycan cell wall (archaea have non-p wall), possible slime layer, no microtubules, unicellular (may form chains/clusters), heterotrophic/autotrophic + reproduce by binary fission. Most have flagella for movement. No nervous coordination.
What are some of the defining features of protoctista?
Eukaryotic unicellular/multicellular, have nucleus, if multicellular show limited differentiation, asexual/sexual reproduction, cellulose cell wall, diverse group including unicellular, filamentous or multicellular. Some some autotrophic + photosynthetic (phylum chlorophyta - green algae), some heterotrophic (phylum protozoa, ingest + digest food) Not multicellular so can’t be classified as animals (paramecium). Have flagella/cilia/pseudopods to move.
Why are protoctistans not in the kingdom plantae?
Have cell walls + chlorophyll but because they’re unicellular/filamentous/cell aggregates + not true multicellular organisms.
What are some of the defining features of fungi?
Eukaryotic, have nucleus, unicellular/multicellular, most possess hyphae in mycelium, no chlorophyll, store carbs as glycogen, heterotrophic/lysostrophic (decomposers breakdown organic matter + recycle organic nutrients), reproduce using spores, chitin cell walls, multinucleate + feed by extracellular digestion (saprophytic).
What are some of the defining features of plantae?
Multicellular eukaryotes, have nucleus, store carbs as starch/lipids as oils, contain chlorophyll in chloroplasts, differentiated tissues, have cellulose cell wall, autotrophs. e.g. ferns, mosses + flowering plants.
What are some of the defining features of animalia?
Multicellular eukaryotes, have nucleus, no cell wall, differentiated tissues, carbs stored as glycogen/lipids as fats, most capable of locomotion, heterotrophs. e.g. flatworms, insects, fish + amphibians. Have nervous coordination.
Who created the 3 domain model?
Carl Woese.
What are 2 ways to determine phylogenic trees using DNA?
Look at DNA base sequences + count num the same (more same, closer relation). Hybridise DNA + record 50% base separation temp compared to non-hybridised separation temp. (higher temp, more similar).
When calculating how closely related species are, say a rabbit is injected with human blood, then this is mixed with other organisms and the degree of precipitation measured, how does this work?
The rabbit creates anti human antibodies and these clump (glutination) leading to a precipitate. The organisms are more closely related the more precipitate is produced.
