Unit 4 Biodiversity Flashcards
Plant scientist
Botanist
Scientist who studies pre-human life
paleontologist
Scientist who specializes in taxonomy (otherwise known as taxonomist)
systematist
The branch of science concerned with naming, classifying, and describing the relationships between all living things on Earth
taxonomy
An ancestor that two or more descendants hold in common
common ancestor
A tool that allows its user to classify unknown
items. When using a dichotomous key, the user observes her item, then describes its characteristics using a series of choices with two possible answers. Each choice leads the user to another step in the key, until her item is identified.
dichotomous key
A cell that has a defined cellular nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane. It can be found in both single- and multi-celled organisms.
eukaryotic
A diagram that shows the evolutionary
relationships between different species that share a common ancestor
phylogenic tree
A cell which does not contain a defined nucleus. They are single-celled organisms, such as bacteria, who do not possess a nucleus
prokaryotic
The branch of science concerned with naming,
classifying, and describing the relationships between all living things on earth
taxonomy
What are the levels of classification from the most general to the most specific. (use your mnemonic!)
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
elements in an ecosystem that have never been alive
abiotic
the collection of different kinds of organisms living in a given area at a given time
biodiversity
any living or once-living things in an ecosystem
biotic
the maximum number of individuals of a
particular species that an ecosystem can support at a given time
carrying capacity
living things maintain a stable internal state even when their environment changes
homeostasis
a species on which the other species in an
ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically
keystone species
all members of a particular species in a given area at a given time
population
all members of all species in a given area
community
two or more species that require the same
resources and need to compete for them
direct competition
all the organisms in a given area along with the nonliving things with which they interact
ecosystem
a group of potentially interbreeding individuals
species
the movement of individuals into an area
immigration
the movement of individuals out of an area
emigration
distinct terrestrial region characterized by its climate and soil conditions and the species of organisms living there
biome
cold, treeless biome in the Arctic, with frozen soil (permafrost) covered by lichens and mosses
tundra biome
an introduced species that now shows an ability to outcompete native species in an ecosystem
invasive species
a species not native to an ecosystem, but rather accidentally (or intentionally) transported to the ecosystem by human activity or other means
introduced species
The number of species in a community
species richness
the process of an organism maintaining stable internal conditions despite changes to the ecosystem
homeostasis
the hypothesis that moderate levels of disturbance will promote a larger diversity of species over a low or high level of disturbance
intermediate disturbance hypothesis
organisms that are first to arrive in an ecosystem that has been disrupted
pioneer species
