U3 T1 Describing Biodiversity

Question 1

biodiversity

Answer 1

the full range of different living things in a particular area or region; it can be described at various levels, including the range of different species, genetic diversity or the diversity of ecosystems present in a large area

Question 2

ecosystem

Answer 2

a self-sustaining unit consisting of the interactions between the species in a community and the environment

Question 3

species

Answer 3

the lowest taxon in Linnaean classification; it is always italicised and combined with genus

Question 4

biotic factors

Answer 4

living components in an ecosystem e.g animals, plants and bacteria

Question 5

abiotic factors

Answer 5

non-living components in an ecosystem e.g landscape, minerals and weather conditions

Question 6

species richness

Answer 6

the no. of species present in an ecosystem
s= no. of species/sqrt(total no. of individuals)

Question 7

relative species abundance

Answer 7

the no. of individuals present for each species in an ecosystem
% = (no. of individuals in a species/ no. of individuals for all species) x 100

Question 8

percentage cover

Answer 8

the percentage of the quadrat that a species takes up

Question 9

percentage frequency

Answer 9

percentage of quadrats in which a species appears

Question 10

Simpsons diversity index (D =1−( ∑n(n-1)/N(N-1))
what does n and N mean?

Answer 10

n = no. of individuals of each species
N = totals no. of individuals at the site

Question 11

abiotic limiting factors

Answer 11

light, temperature and chemical environment

Question 12

biotic limiting factors

Answer 12

food, predators, diseases/parasites, competition for resources

Question 13

limiting factor

Answer 13

is an aspect of the environment that restricts an organisms ability to live there, they can be biotic or abiotic and limit abundance and distribution

Question 14

factors that affect photosynthesis

Answer 14

light intensity, CO2 concentration, temperature

Question 15

biological classification

Answer 15

is a hierarchical system and based on methods or reproduction similarity of physical features

Question 16

describe the Linnaean system (based on physical features)

Answer 16

• based on similarities of obvious physical traits
• hierarchy of taxa (Life, Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species)
• uses binomial nomenclature (using the Genus and Species)

Question 17

r-selection

Answer 17

• very high mortality rate
• produce a large no. of offspring
• smaller body sizes
• low investments of energy in terms of care and nurture
• unstable environment
• reach maturity in early life

Question 18

K-selection

Answer 18

• very low mortality rate
• produce a small no. of offspring
• bigger body sizes
• high investment of energy in terms of care and nurture
• stable environment
• longer life expectancy

Question 19

molecular phylogeny

Answer 19

classification using DNA sequences and proteins to demonstrate evolutionary relationships.

Question 20

5 reproductive methods

Answer 20

sexual or asexual
internal or external fertilisation
placental or marsupial mammal
egg laying
produce milk to feed their young

Question 21

clade

Answer 21

a group comprising all of the descendants of a particular organism

Question 22

common assumptions of cladistics

Answer 22

common ancestry
bifurcation
physical change

Question 23

bifurcation

Answer 23

when a lineage splits it splits into two groups

Question 24

molecular rate

Answer 24

estimated no. of base pair changes per nucleotide per generation of a population

Question 25

base rate of mutations (eqn)

Answer 25

(no. of diferences/no. residues analysed)x(1/time since divergence)

Question 25

date of divergence (eqn)

Answer 25

(no. of differences/no. of residues analysed)x(1/mutation rate)

Question 26

biological species concept (BSC)

Answer 26

is the definition of a species based on the capacity of individuals to interbreed, share a gene pool

Question 27

BSC limitations

Answer 27

• not possible to apply it to fossils of extinct organisms
• organisms that produce asexually
• hybrid is an organism resulting from the interbreeding of 2 difference species, fertile or infertile

Question 28

Morphological Species Concept (MSC)

Answer 28

the definition of a species based on physical characteristics

Question 29

Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC)

Answer 29

definition of a species based on the smallest group of individuals having a common ancestor often determined through genetic analysis

Question 30

hybrid

Answer 30

2 different species with a close common ancestor that can breed with each other either fertile (Polar bear + grizzly bear = grolar bear) or infertile (horse + donkey = mule)

Question 31

predation

Answer 31

interspecific
predator benefits and the prey is harmed lethally, short time interaction as the prey is consumed

Question 32

symbiosis

Answer 32

when 2 species have a close relationship with each other, can be positive, negative or neutral for the individuals involved

Question 33

parasitism

Answer 33

one species benefits at another’s expense

Question 34

commenalism

Answer 34

one species benefits and the other is neither benefited nor harmed

Question 35

mutualism

Answer 35

both species benefit from the interaction

Question 36

competition

Answer 36

when 2 organisms compete/fight for the same limited resources, there is usually a winner and lose but if the competitors fight to the death and kill each other which results in a negative effect for both

Question 37

2 types of competition

Answer 37

• intraspecific (occurs within a species)
• interspecific (between members to different species)