Unit 2 Flashcards
Chapter 4 Concept 4-1 What is biodiversity and why is it important?
The biodiversity found in genes, species, ecosystems, and ecosystem processes is vital to sustaining life on earth
Chapter 4 Concept 4-2 How does the Earth’s life change over time?
4-2A: The scientific theory of evolution explains how life on earth changes over time through changes in the genes of populations 4-2B: Populations evolve when genes mutate and give some individuals genetic traits that enhance their abilities to survive and produce offspring with these traits (Natural selection).
Chapter 4 Concept 4-3 How do geological processes and climate change affect evolution?
Tectonic plate movements, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and climate change have shifted wildlife habitats, wiped out large numbers of species, and created opportunities for the evolution of new species.
Chapter 4 Concept 4-4 How do speciation, extinction, and human activities affect biodiversity?
4-4A: As environmental conditions change, the balance between the formation of new species and the extinction of existing species determines the earth’s biodiversity 4-4B: Human activities are decreasing biodiversity by causing the extinction of many species and by destroying or degrading habitats needed or the development of new species.
Chapter 4 Concept 4-5 What is species diversity and why is it important
Species diversity is a major component of biodiversity and tends to increase the sustainability of some ecosystems.
Chapter 4 Concept 4-6 What roles do species play in an ecosystem?
4-6A: Each species plays a specific ecological role called its niche. 4-6B: Any given species may play one or more of five important roles- native, nonnative, indicator, keystone, or foundation- in a particular ecosystem.
Chapter 8
Concept 8-1
What is the general nature of aquatic systems?
8-1A: Salt water and freshwater aquatic life zones cover almost three-fourths of the earth’s surface, with oceans dominating the planet.
8-1B: The key factors determining biodiversity in aquatic systems are temperature, dissolved oxygen content, availability of food, and availability of light and nutrients necessary for photosynthesis.
Chapter 8
Concept 8-2
Why are marine aquatic systems important?
Salt water ecosystems are irreplacable reservoirs of biodiversity and provide major ecological and economic services.
Chapter 8
Concept 8-3
How have human activities affected marine ecosystems?
Human activities threaten aquatic biodiversity and disrupt ecological and economiv services provided by salt water ecosystems.
Chapter 8
Concept 8-4
Why are freshwater ecosystems important?
Freshwater ecosystems provide major ecological and economic services, and are irreplaceable resorvoirs of biodiversity.
Chapter 8
Concept 8-5
How have human activities affected freshwater ecosystems?
human activities threaten biodiversity and disrupt ecological and economi services provided by freshwater ecosystems.
Chapter 8
Salt water covers 71% of the earth
freshwater covers 2.2%
