Unit 3 Topic 1

Question 1

What is classification?

Answer 1

Classificationis the systematic and rationalgrouping of both organisms andecosystemsto show the biological relationships between them

Question 2

What can classification be based on?

Answer 2

1) Similarity of physical features
2) Methods of reproduction
3) Molecular sequences
4) Species interaction

Question 3

What is the taxonomic order/rank?

Answer 3

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus (e.g Pseudomys), Species (e.g Plains Mouse).

Dear King Phillip Came over for good soup

Question 4

What is the definition of a species?

Answer 4

A species is a group of organisms that can potentially interbreed, or mate, with one another to produce viable, fertile offspring.

Question 5

What is an interspecific hybrid, and an example of one?

Answer 5

The offspring are not viable (infertile) andcan’t reproduce. Example is a mule.

Question 6

Why is multiple definitions of a species needed?

Answer 6

Multiple definitions of species are required because some species definitions/concepts cannot be applied to organisms that do not reproduce sexually.

Question 7

Describe features of the Linnaean system of classification?

Answer 7

Starts more broadly and gets specific

Features 3 differents domains

Utilises bionomial nomenclature

Grouped on similarity of physical features

Question 8

What is the Linnaean system of classification based off of?

Answer 8

Based on similarities in obvious physical traits.

Question 9

Describe the two methods of reproduction?

Answer 9

Sexual – 2 parents with variation (e.g. humans)
Asexual – 1 parent with no variation (e.g. bacteria)

Question 10

What are the two types of reproductive selection?

Answer 10

r-strategists – short life-span, high rate of reproduction, quick to mature, little care for offspring (e.g. insects)

K-strategists – fewer offspring, more energy to nurture,higher survival rate,longer gestation period (e.g. chimp)

Question 11

What is the word for classification by molecular sequences?

Answer 11

Phylogenetics

Question 12

What is phylogeny?

Answer 12

The process of comparing geneticsequences and molecularstructures.

Question 13

What is cladistics?

Answer 13

When similarities in molecularsequence is used to define agroup of organisms.

Question 14

What does a phylogenic tree show?

Answer 14

A phylogenetic tree shows patterns based on morphological or genetic sequences

Question 15

What is predation? (Classification by Species interaction)

Answer 15

A predator-prey relationship involves a predator and its prey. Prey numbers regulate predator numbers, but the presence of predators can impact ecosystem dynamics

Question 16

What is competition? (Classification by Species interaction)

Answer 16

A competition relationship exists when organisms in an ecosystem use the same resources – e.g. food, space, mates, nesting sites
This relationship negatively affects both participants

Question 17

What is symbiosis and what are the 3 types? (Classification by Species interaction)

Answer 17

interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, where at least one species benefits

Question 18

What is disease? (Classification by Species interaction)

Answer 18

Disease involves the harm to a living thing and can involve the interaction between a pathogen and a host
Disease can be classified asinfectious or non-infectious, involve pathogens, parasites, vectors/hosts

Question 19

What molecular evidence is used for classification and as evidenceof relatedness betweenspecies?

Answer 19

Amino acid and DNAsequences

Question 20

If two species have similar proteins or DNA sequences it is usedas molecular evidence that they shared?

Answer 20

A recent common ancestor

Question 21

What do organisms that share a common ancestor have fewer differences in?

Answer 21

Their amino acid sequences

Question 22

What will happen if two populations become isolated?

Answer 22

Theywill accumulate differences (mutations) in their DNAsequences over time

Question 23

The rateof accumulation of mutations can be used to calculate?

Answer 23

Howlong-ago organisms diverged

Question 24

The greater the difference in the DNA sequences between two species…

Answer 24

The more time is inferred to have passed since they shared a common ancestor

Question 25

What are the common assumptions of cladistics?

Answer 25

Common ancestry:
Cladistics assumes that organisms within a group are descended from a common ancestor

Bifurcation:
Cladistics assumes that there is a bifurcating pattern (dividing a branch into two)

Physical change:
Cladistics assumes that physical change occurs over time

Question 26

What is the difference between a phylogram and a cladeogram?

Answer 26

Phylograms (phylogenetic trees) have branch lengths proportional to the amount of evolutionary time and are a more accurate representation of the evolutionary history of an organism

Cladograms are more simplistic, giving a hypothetical picture of the evolution of organisms with no time-scale

Question 27

Clade refers to?

Answer 27

A clade is a group oforganisms that includes anancestor and all theproposed descendants ofthat ancestor, also called amonophyletic group

Question 28

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 28

An ecosystemis a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

Question 29

Why is it important to classify ecosystems?

Answer 29

Classifying different ecosystems is vital for ecosystem management and conservation

Question 30

Why are old growth forests important to classify?

Answer 30

They provide important habitat for many threatened species, and have diverse structures and a mix of species and often contain old trees with hollows

Question 31

Why are productive soils important to classify?

Answer 31

Soils can have high biodiversity, including bacteria, fungi, earthworms and termites. Healthy soil has biological, physical and chemical propertiesthat promote the health of plants, animals and humans, can recover from stress and can assist in nutrient cycling which supports plant growth, decomposition and promotes healthy growth.

Question 32

Why are coral reefs important to classify?

Answer 32

Coral reefs support a huge number of fish, invertebrate, plants, turtles, birds and marine mammals. They protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs and recreation and hold cultural significanceto indigenous people around the world

Question 33

What is the 3 step method used to classify ecosystem in Queensland?

Answer 33

1. Bioregion (there are 13)
2. Landform (there are 12)
3. Vegetation community (there are 185)

Question 34

What does stratified sampling involve?

Answer 34

Stratified sampling breaks a large population down into similar subgroups (strata) and collects random samples as a representation of the population

Question 35

Why do ecologists employ stratified sampling?

Answer 35

Stratified sampling is conducted to make estimates about the population as a whole
These estimates could include:

Population density
Distribution
Environmental gradients/profiles (gradual changes in abiotic factors – e.g. effect of altitude)
Zonation (distribution of species into zones of different conditions – e.g. distance from the beach into a mangrove forest)
Stratification (distribution of species into different vertical zones – e.g. forest floor to the canopy)

Question 36

Site selection involves?

Answer 36

Sites must be selected from each strata that are fairly homogenousand representative of the larger population.
Randomisation methods should be used to minimise selection bias. Thesurveyorsmust ensure an adequate number of samples,replicates within a sample and frequency of sample collection

Question 37

Themain surveying techniques used are:

Answer 37

Transects to measure distribution

Quadrats to measure density

Question 38

How do you minimize bias when sampling?

Answer 38

Greater number of samples = greater probability that thesamples are representative of the community

A grid overlay on the survey area where site selection isbased on a random number used to pick grid coordinates for transect or quadratplacement

Establishing clear parameters for counting organisms

Regular servicing and calibration of equipment and acknowledgment of precision

Question 39

How do you present data?

Answer 39

Data collection should always becomprehensive as you might notbe able to easily return to an area

The headings you select for yourtable are determined by the typeof ecosystem being surveyed and the aim of your study

Profile diagrams are scaledrawings of the profile (sideview/elevation) of the vegetationalong a transect. These are usedto make qualitative

comparisonsbetween communities
Appropriate graphical representations are used to best visualize the data (e.g. scatterplots)

Question 40

What is biodiversity?

Answer 40

Biodiversity is the variety of organismsliving within an ecosystem. It also includes the diversity of ecosystems

Question 41

Why is it important to measure biodiversity?

Answer 41

Measuring biodiversityis important for determining the wellbeing of ecosystems, as higher levels ofbiodiversity help to stabilize ecosystems and deal with suddenchange

Ecologists measure biodiversity to assess ecosystem health, andconsider human practices that may be harming or helping inmaintaining biodiversity

Question 42

What are the 3 levels biodiversity can be measured at?

Answer 42

Genetic: Variety of gene variations in the gene pool

Species: Variety of species present in an ecosystem

Ecosystem: Variety of ecosystems and habitats in a given region / biome

Question 43

What is species diversity?

Answer 43

Species diversity is the numberof different species present inan ecosystem

Question 44

Why does more habitats and microhabitats in an ecosystem increase the amount of species present?

Answer 44

Because each species has aset ofenvironmental conditions which are required for their survival called atolerance range. These environmental conditions limit the distribution and abundance of species

Question 45

How does climate limit species distribution?

Answer 45

Climate includes precipitation, temperature, winddirection, cloud cover and sunshine which allaffect the type and abundance of species

Windaffects salinity in coastal areas, precipitation and plant transpiration

Warmer climates tend to support biodiversity whilecolder climates tend to reduce it, resulting inslowed metabolism and slow or sporadic growthof plants

This harshness means only few species can surviveand flourish,minimisingfood supplies, resulting inlimited biodiversity

Question 46

How does soil affect species distribution?

Answer 46

Soils are formed when the underlying bedrock isweathered and broken down into grain-sizedparticles, so the underlying rock has a large influenceon which plants can grow in an area

The types of plants present will determine whichanimals can also live in an area

Soil quality includes the thickness, structure, porosity, pH, nutrient content and salinity

Question 47

How does water quality affect species distribution?

Answer 47

Marine and fresh-water ecosystems depend on water quality

Measurable factors in aquatic environmentsinclude light, depth and turbidity (water clarity),oxygenation, temperature, pH, and water flow

Question 48

What does percentage cover measure?

Answer 48

Percentage covermeasures the proportion of an area coveredby an organism to estimate abundance

Question 49

What are the four ways to measure percentage cover?

Answer 49

Basal cover
Ground cover
Leaf/foliar cover
Canopy cover

Question 50

What is species richness?

Answer 50

Species richness is a simple measure of the number of species within a particular area

Question 51

What is species abundance?

Answer 51

Species abundance is the number of individuals of a particularspecies in the ecosystem under consideration

Question 52

What is species evenness?

Answer 52

Species evenness (relative species abundance) is a measure of thenumber of individuals of a species in relation to the total number ofindividuals of all species in the area