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Biology > Unit 3 (using Study Buddy) > Flashcards

Unit 3 (using Study Buddy) Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Define biodiversity

A
  • Describes number and variety of organisms living in geographical area
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2
Q

Define ecosystem

A
  • Communities of organisms interacting with their physical and biological environment
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3
Q

List the measures of biodiversity

A
  • % cover
  • % frequency
  • species evenness
  • species richness
  • SDI
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4
Q

Explain species richness

A
  • measure of number of species present in a sampled area
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5
Q

Explain species evenness

A
  • aka relative species abundance
  • difference in distribution of total abundance between the species in a community
  • distribution and dominance of species within community
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6
Q

Explain % cover

A
  • % of sampled area covered by target species –> used to estimate population of larger area
  • often use quadrats
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7
Q

Explain % frequency

A
  • measure of number of times species occurs within sample
  • use quadrats

% freq = no. quadrats species is found/total no. quadrats x 100%

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8
Q

Explain Simpson’s Diversity Index

A
  • measure of diversity
  • accounts for species richness and evenness
  • value between 0 and 1, where 0 indicates no diversity, and 1 is highest diversity
  • probability that 2 randomly selected organisms are DIFFERENT species

SDI=1−(Σn(n−1))/(N(N−1))
(where N = total no. organisms of all species, and n = no. organisms of target species)

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9
Q

define intraspecific and interspecific competition

A

INTRAspecific - competition between 2 or more individuals from SAME species for same resources (eg. food, water, shelter, mates)
INTERspecific - competition between DIFFERENT species for same resources (eg. shelter, food)

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10
Q

describe predation

A
  • one organism (predator) hunts, kills and eats another (prey)
  • interaction affects populations and distribution of both species
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11
Q

define symbiosis

A
  • a relationship in which 2 organisms live in close association over a long period of time
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12
Q

list and describe 4 types of symbiotic relationships

A
  • MUTUALISM- both benefit (eg. small fish eat parasites and dead skin from manta rays)
  • COMMENSALISM- one benefits, other unaffected (eg. birds nest in tree hollows –> birds get shelter, tree unaffected)
  • AMENSALISM- one harmed, other unaffected (eg. cows trample (kill) grass, but cows unaffected)
  • PARASITISM - one is host that is negatively affected or killed by parasite, which is adapted to gain requirements for life from host
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13
Q

what are abiotic factors that affect organisms?

A

climate –> temperature, wind, water
soil characteristics –> pH, nutrient content, composition, salinity

different organisms have different adaptations that give them a certain tolerance range for these abiotic factors

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14
Q

define distribution and describe the different distribution patters

A
  • distribution - regions in which a species is found
  • random distribution
  • evenly spaced distribution
  • clumped distribution
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15
Q

List the 3 biological classification systems

A
  • Linnaean classification
  • Reproductive characteristics (sexual or asexual reproduction, K- or r-strategists)
  • Cladistics (molecular sequencing)
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16
Q

Explain the Linnaean classification system

A
  • hierarchical classification system based on physical characteristics
  • broad to specific (domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species) –> (Dumb King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup)
17
Q

Explain biological classification by reproductive characteristics

A
  • asexual reproduction (one parent, identical offspring) vs. sexual reproduction (genetic material from 2 parents, genetically unique offspring)

r-strategists vs. K-strategists:
- R-STRATEGISTS:
- many offspring produced with little investment of energy or parenting
- small size, short gestation period, early reproductive maturity
- opportunistic, thrive in disturbed and temporary habitats
- populations fluctuate greatly, can produce swarms or appear to be absent altogether
- high mortality
- EXAMPLES: insects, bacteria, mice

  • K-STRATEGISTS:
    • high level of energy invested in growth and care of 1-2 offspring
    • large size, long gestation period, slow to reach reproductive maturity
    • rely on stable environments and invest in health of offspring to compete for limited resources
    • populations fluctuate close to carrying capacity; large inc. or dec. in population threatens species survival
    • low infant mortality
    • EXAMPLES: humans, polar bears, dolphins, elephants
18
Q

define ‘cladistics’, ‘cladogram’, ‘phylogenetic tree’, and ‘clade’

A
  • CLADISTICS - classification system grouping organisms according to evolutionary relatedness through common ancestors (usually found through similarity of DNA sequence)
  • CLADOGRAM - a branching diagram showing evolutionary relatedness of a number of species (fairly simple, more hypothesis of relationships)
  • PHYLOGENETIC TREE - diagram that represents evolutionary relatedness between organisms (more complex, true evolutionary history)
  • CLADE - group of organisms that comprise of all evolutionary descendants of a common ancestor
19
Q

define species and hybrid (and give example of hybrid)

A
  • SPECIES:
    • 2 individuals are considered to be same species when they can breed and produce fertile offspring
  • HYBRID:
    • when 2 closely related species breed and produce offspring –> hybrid
    • hybrids are usually infertile and cannot successfully reproduce with species of either parent or another hybrid
    • eg. liger = lion + tiger, zebroid = zebra + horse
20
Q

Explain classification of ecosystems (why it is important and 3 classification systems)

A
  • important to plan decisions about management and conservation
  • ecosystems are dynamic, complex structures, so accurate classification can be challenging

Holdridge Life Zone Classification Scheme –> classifies according to climatic conditions (triangle thingo with latitudinal regions, altitudinal belts, annual precipitation, potential evapotranspiration ratio, and humidity provinces)

Specht Classification System –> table with growth of tallest stratum and foliage cover by tallest stratum; usually used in Australia

ANAE Classification System –> Australian National Aquatic Ecosystem, 3 level system using info on climate, landscape, water and soil to classify aquatic ecosystems

21
Q

Define stratified sampling and describe the purpose/characteristics of stratified sampling

A
  • dividing ecosystem into different layers (strata) to analyse patterns

Purpose:
- POPULATION - assume population of each species in sample is proportional to entire area
- DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY - eg. clumped, uniform or random distribution
- ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENTS AND PROFILES - as altitude increases, atmospheric oxygen decreases, possibly out of certain organism’s tolerance range
- ZONATION - discrete zones can be measured and monitored for changes as indicator of changes to abiotic factors and human impact
- STRATIFICATION - rainforests divided into vertical strata to survey variety of organisms with adaptations for unique conditions of each strata

22
Q

Describe site selection in stratified sampling

A
  • surveys must be undertaken with effort to avoid bias to obtain accurate representation of sample area
  • consider participant safety, minimisation of disturbance to community, sample target species, geographical size of area, and time and resources available for sampling
23
Q

Describe surveying techniques used in stratified sampling

A

Quadrats:
- may be positioned randomly or at regular intervals along transect

Transects:
- areas selected for sampling as representation of species in community
- line intercept provides sample area along straight line marked with paint/string
- belt transect - 2 parallel lines, counting all species in space between or placing quadrat at regular intervals across area

24
Q

Explain the transfer and transformation of solar energy into biomass as it flows through biotic components of an ecosystem

A

Energy transfer - movement of energy from one object to another
Energy transformation - change of energy from one form to another (eg. light into chem)

Energy cycles –> sun provides almost all energy on Earth, light energy transformed to chem energy thru photosynthesis, producer’s energy used and also stored in biomass, producer consumed by primary consumer and therefore transferring (about 10%) chem energy in biomass (continue thru trophic levels)

25
Q

Explain food chains, webs, and pyramids

A

Chains:
- flowchart showing transfer of energy from producer to highest consumer
Webs:
- flowchart showing complex feeding relationships between several interlinking food chains
Pyramids:
- follow general rule that 10% of energy of one trophic level is converted to biomass in next trophic level
- energy, biomass or number pyramids show quantitative data of producer to highest consumer in food chain

26
Q

Describe water cycle

A
  • enters atmosphere through cellular respiration, evaporation and evapotranspiration
  • stored in atmosphere as water vapour and ice
  • exits atmosphere by precipitation
  • enters and stored in earth through infiltration, groudwater storage and flow
  • exits earth through plant and animal uptake, and entering bodies of water (eg. ocean)
27
Q

Describe carbon cycle

A
  • stored in carbon sinks (eg. fossil beds/fossil fuels, limestone, carbon dioxide, ocean)
  • carbon taken out of carbon sinks to be used to burn fossil fuels, which then enters atmosphere
  • carbon also enters atmosphere via cellular respiration, photosynthesis (which also takes carbon out of atmosphere), volcanic eruptions, and decay
  • carbon put back in carbon sinks by organisms dying and decaying into the earth, and through carbon dioxide being dissolved in rainwater
28
Q

Describe nitrogen cycle

A
  • atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to nitrates (NO3) through lighting, volcanoes, and nitrogen fixing bacteria
  • denitrifying bacteria liberate nitrogen to (N2)
  • nitrates (NO3) to ammonia (NH3) or nitrites (NO2) through denitrifying bacteria
  • nitrites (NO2) to nitrates (NO3) through nitrifying bacteria
  • nitrogen in organisms to ammonia through death, waste and decomposition
29
Q

Define ecological niche

A

describes role and requirements of organism in its habitat
- ROLE encompasses all its interactions with biotic and abiotic factors (eg. when and how it feeds, reproduces and lives)
- REQUIREMENTS are everything it needs to survive (eg. food, space, shelter, abiotic variables)

30
Q

Fundamental vs realised niche

A

FUNDAMENTAL - range of environmental factors a species can occupy without consideration for population limiting factors
REALISED - the part of a fundamental niche a species occupies due to population limiting factors

31
Q

Describe competitive exclusion prinicple

A

both species may be adapted to the factors of then environment, but one species will have a competitive advantage allowing it to succeed and exclude the other

32
Q

Define keystone species

A
  • species that has disproportionately large effect on community in which it lives
  • removal of keystone species has cascading effect on multiple other species and interspecific relationships in a community
    eg. dingoes, sea otters
33
Q

Explain carrying capacity

A
  • the number of individuals of species able to be supported by the finite resources in the environment
  • population limiting factors are biotic or abiotic factors that limit the continued growth of a population
34
Q

Explain population growth in terms of carrying capacity, s-shaped curves, and j-shaped curves

A
  • no ecosystem can support infinite exponential growth
  • therefore, when carrying capacity is reached, either:
    - population will plateau at carrying capacity (s-shaped curve)
    OR
    - population will see initial population ‘boom’ followed by a sharp reduction or ‘bust’ (j-shaped curve) where population either dies out or moves on to another area with more available resources
35
Q

Describe methods of measuring population growth and change

A
  • calculate using births, deaths, immigration and emigration (net difference between births and deaths is added to net difference between immigration and emigration gives net population growth or decline)

LINCOLN INDEX
- estimates size of population using capture-mark-recapture method

N=(M x n)/m
M = no. individuals caught, marked and released initially
n = no. individuals cause on 2nd sampling
m = no. individuals recaptured that were marked

36
Q

List biotic and abiotic population limiting factors

A

BIOTIC
- reduced food supply due to over browsing
- increase in predator population
- disease and parasites spread through population
- intraspecific competition for resources due to rapid population growth exceeding carrying capacity

ABIOTIC
- drought reduces producer biomass
- extremes of temperature reduces or prevents reproduction
- destruction of habitat by weather extremes
- crowding reduces ability to obtain food and reproduce

37
Q

Explain ecological succession (refer to pioneer and climax communities and seres)

A

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
- process of change in an ecosystem over a long period of time
- 2 types of succession:
- PRIMARY SUCCESSION (when species colonises a newly formed landscape - from bare ground)
- SECONDARY SUCCESSION (when there is disturbance in established ecosystem)

PIONEER SPECIES
- first to colonise newly formed landscape
SERES
- community goes through several seres between pioneer and climax communities
- sere is an intermediate community observed during ecological succession in an ecosystem advancing toward climax community
CLIMAX COMMUNITY
- have reached fully maturity and have minimal change or new ecological niches, and are fairly stable

38
Q

Identify the features of pioneer species

A
  • able to fixate nitrogen from atmosphere, able to photosynthesise, tolerance to extreme conditions, rapid germination of seeds
39
Q

Describe examples of the human impact on ecosystems

A
  • DEFORESTATION (reduction of carbon stores, release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere)
  • URBANISATION (increased amount of covered surfaces increases air temperature and flooding; ideal habitats for introduced pest species; risk to animal species due to roads and traffic)
  • HABITAT DESTRUCTION (urbanisation and deforestation cause habitat destruction for living organisms large and small)
  • INTRODUCED SPECIES (can destroy and displace native species)
  • INCREASED CARBON DIOXIDE (contribute to global heating, which causes sea levels to rise)
  • FARMING/MONOCULTURE (widespread farming reduces biodiversity and impact soil and water quality)

Biology (5 decks)

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