Unit A Section 1 Flashcards
Biological Diversity
Refers to the different types of organisms on earth
Species
A group of organisms that have the same structure and can reproduce with one another to produce for tile offspring
Ecosystem
a system formed by the interaction of organisms (biotic) with their physical environment (abiotic)
Biotic
Living things
Abiotic
Nonliving things
Population get
a group of the same species that live in the same area and use the same resources
Community
A group of different populations that live in the same area
Biotic and abiotic things interact with one another in a shared environment. Together they function as a system, an ecosystem.
Abiotic factors affect the number and types of species that live in an ecosystem.
Genetic diversity
Refers to the variations between members of a population. Some are visible some are not. Humans can modify the amount of variation in an organism. Example: pets and plants that we do not want to change and we want to keep some useful characteristics.
Region with the greatest biological diversity
Tropical rain forests
KPCOFGS (talons)
Kingdom Phyla Classes Orders Families Genera Species
Symbiosis
Relationship between two different species, a type of interdependence.
Commensalism
One organism benefits but the other is not harmed nor does it benefit. Example: barnacles and whales
Mutualism
Both organisms benefit. example: flowers and bees
Parisitism
One organism benefits but the other is harmed, however, it is not like the predator-prey relationship because parasites do not usually kill their host. Parasitism is not limited to two organisms it can become a chain.
Interspecies competition
Happens when two or more species need the same resource. Limits the size of the populations of the competing species. Example: competing for food may lead to starvation
Niche
Describes the role of an organism within the ecosystem. It can change over time. Includes: what it eats, what eats it, it’s habitat, it’s effect on its environment, etc.
Resource partitioning
When similar species coexist in the area and have adaptations to avoid competition. Example: bird species dividing up parts of a tree to eat from.
Variability
Variation within a species
Variability is important if the environment of the species changes. Variability can help some individuals survive environmental changes. These changes can include a new predator, a new disease, elimination of a food source and so on.
Example: different coat colours can help fox populations survive in different habitats. Example: if humans are all the same and one dies from a disease then all the rest would die too because there’s no variability.
Natural selection
When the environment selects which individuals will survive long enough to reproduce. This is another way that affects the survival of a species.
