U2T5 - Keywords Flashcards
Biodiversity
AKA biological diversity. Describes the variety of life. Number + variety of organisms in an area.
Species Diversity
Num of diff species + individuals of each species within a community. Includes species richness + diversity index.
Species Richness
Num of diff species in an area. More species = richer. Takes no account of num of individuals of each species.
Simpson’s Diversity Index
Takes num of diff species + individuals present into account.
Ecosystem/Habitat Diversity
Diversity of habitats/ecosystems within an area/the biosphere. Region with wide habitat variety is preferable + includes greater species diversity. e.g. countryside with ponds, river, woodland etc.
Habitat
Place where an organism lives. e.g. pond, leaf on tree.
Ecosystem
Community of organisms + how they interact with each other + their environment. Forms a balanced self-sufficient ecological unit, with its own characteristic pattern of energy flow + nutrient cycling. e.g. forests, ponds, lakes, oceans.
Population
All members of same species in given area at given time. e.g. bluebells in wood, world population.
Community
All populations (living organisms) which live in given area at given time. e.g. woodland community. (all living organisms in wood)
Genetic Diversity
Genetic variability of a species. Measured by genetic fingerprinting/observing differences in physical features of organisms within a population. More adapted = higher diversity.
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment
Taxonomy
Grouping organisms on account of their ancestral relationships among living organisms. Study of classification. Science of naming, describing + classifying organisms.
Species
A group of individuals of common ancestry that closely resemble each other + are normally capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.
Classification
Arrangement of organisms into groups.
Taxon
Group in taxonomy (increasing size)
Nomenclature
Scientific naming of organisms using binomial system.
Systematics
Placing organisms in groups based on similarities + differences.
Kingdom
A group of related phyla. e.g animalia (humans/polar bear) Largest group.
Phylum
A group of related class. e.g. chordata (humans/polar bear) Organisms constructed in a similar plan. Plants are classified into divisions rather than phyla.
Class
A group of related orders within a phylum. e.g. mammalia (humans/polar bear)
Order
A group of related families e.g. primates/carnivora (humans/polar bear)
Family
A group of related genera. e.g. homonidae/ursidae (humans/polar bear)
Genus
A group of similar + closely related species. e.g. homo/ursus (humans/polar bear)
Species
A group of individuals of common ancestry that closely resemble each other + are normally capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring. e.g. sapiens/maritimus (humans/polar bear)
Morphology
External features. e.g. Limbs/shell colour
Anatomy
Internal features. e.g. Backbone
Cell Structure
Difference between prokaryotes + eukaryotes. Differences between plant, animal + fungal cells.
Biochemistry
DNA, RNA + protein. Can determine length of time since 2 species shared common ancestor + degree of change help us establish molecular clock.
Phylogenetic Taxonomy/Phylogeny
Classifying species + larger groups according to their ancestral relationships (Same species evolved from a common ancestor)
Endosymbiotic Theory
Discusses how life evolved from prokaryotes.
Filamentous Organisms
Where cells are joined end to end (green seaweed)
Multicellular Organisms
Limited differentiation (brown seaweed)
Hyphae
Long filaments which group to form a mycelium. Frequently multinucleated + not clearly divided into separate cells.
Mycelium
Hyphal network.
Lysotropes/saprophytes
Fungi feed by decomposing dead matter. Secrete hydrolytic enzymes into soil by exocytosis, enzymes digest organic material in soil, absorb digestive products + this is extracellular digestion as enzymes work outside cell.
Autotrophs
Photosynthesising organisms which make complex organic compounds from simple inorganic compounds.
Heterotrophs
Consume food + digest it.
3 Domain Model
Classifies living things under 3 domains/super kingdoms. Prokaryotes, eukaryotes or archaea. Each has unique rRNA.
Environment
The conditions that affect organisms in a habitat. Determines type of habitat that can develop + species living there. Abiotic + biotic.
Biosphere
The part of the Earth + its atmosphere that’s inhabited by living organisms.
Microhabitats
Very small habitats. e.g. individual leaf on a tree.
Ecological Niche
Organism’s role within ecosystem. What it feeds on, where it lives, climatic + edaphic factors it prefers + competition.
