Biology unit 3 & 4 > Unit 3 > Flashcards

Unit 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the Linnaean/binomial nomenclature System?

A

A classification system based on the similarity of physical features. The formal system for naming species, consisting of two parts: genus and species

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2
Q

What are the methods of reproduction?

A

Asexual - Mitosis
Sexual reproduction

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3
Q

What is the biological species concept?

A

Members of the same species interbreed in nature to produce fertile offspring and share a common gene pool

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4
Q

What are the main kingdoms in biological classification?

A
  • Monera
  • Protista
  • Fungi
  • Plantae
  • Animalia
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5
Q

What is the primary method of reproduction in prokaryotic organisms?

A

Asexual reproduction, primarily through mitotic cell division

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6
Q

True or False: Asexual reproduction results in genetically diverse offspring.

A

False

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7
Q

What is a hybrid?

A

The offspring resulting from the combination of two organisms of different species through sexual reproduction

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8
Q

What does gene pool refer to?

A

The combined genetic information of all members of a species

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9
Q

Define ecological niche.

A

The role and space that an organism fills in an ecosystem, including interactions with biotic and abiotic factors

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10
Q

What is a clade?

A

A group of organisms that consist of a common ancestor and all its linear descendants

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11
Q

What are the three main types of species interactions?

A
  • Competition
  • Predation
  • Symbiosis
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12
Q

Fill in the blank: The process in which new organisms are created by combining genetic information from two individuals is called _______.

A

Sexual reproduction

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13
Q

What is the advantage of sexual reproduction?

A

Increases the diversity of genotypes and phenotypes within a population

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14
Q

What is the r-K scale?

A

A reproductive strategy that describes offspring numbers and investment

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15
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

A method of sampling that involves dividing a population into strata to obtain a sample that best represents the entire population

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16
Q

What is the purpose of a dichotomous key?

A

To identify organisms through a series of paired characteristics

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17
Q

Define biodiversity.

A

The variety of all living things, including different species, genetic information, and ecosystems

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18
Q

What are the three levels of biodiversity?

A
  • Genetic diversity
  • Species diversity
  • Ecosystem diversity
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19
Q

What is the significance of gene pool diversity?

A

A large gene pool indicates high genetic diversity and increased chances of biological fitness

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20
Q

What is the role of natural selection in evolution?

A

Individuals with favorable adaptations to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce

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21
Q

What is competition in ecology?

A

The struggle of individuals to obtain a shared limiting resource

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22
Q

What is mutualism?

A

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction

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23
Q

What are the three levels of biodiversity?

A

Genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity

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24
Q

Define genetic diversity.

A

The variety of genes within a species

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25
Define species diversity.
The variety of species within a habitat or a region
26
Define ecosystem diversity.
The variety of ecosystems in a given place
27
What does species richness measure?
The number of species per sample
28
What is species evenness?
The relative abundance of the different species in an area
29
Define species abundance.
The number of individuals of a particular species in the ecosystem
30
What is basal cover?
Cross section area of the stem or stems at soil level
31
What is ground cover?
Area of the soil covered by plants, plant litter, rocks or other materials
32
What is leaf cover?
Area of shadow cast by the canopy when the sun is directly above
33
What is canopy cover?
Total area covered by the plant
34
How is percentage frequency calculated?
(Number of quadrants containing the species of interest)/(Total number of quadrants sampled) X 100%
35
What does Simpson's diversity measure?
Species diversity
36
What does a value of 0 indicate in Simpson's diversity?
Only one species is present
37
What are biotic factors?
Biotic factors are interactions associated with living organisms. They can also influence the distribution of organisms in an ecosystem. - competition for environmental resources - grazing - predation - a reduction in predators can lead to an increase in prey. High numbers of prey can lead to overgrazing, which can reduce biodiversity - disease - food availability
38
What are abiotic factors?
Non-living variables that can influence where organisms can live - climate - soil - area - water
39
What is an indicator species?
An organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition
40
Give an example of an indicator species.
Platypus, indicating improving water quality
41
What are some abiotic variables found in terrestrial ecosystems?
* Rain * Wind * Temperature * Altitude * Soil * Pollution * Nutrients * pH * Types of soil * Sunlight
42
What factors affect soil quality?
* Thickness * Structure and Porosity * pH * Nutrient content * Salinity
43
What is the optimum pH for soil?
5.5 - 8
44
How does precipitation (high rain fall) affect soil?
High rainfall causes leaching of soils resulting in nutrient removal
45
What is turbidity?
A measure of the cloudiness of water
46
What is the formula for flow rate?
Flow rate(m3/s) = Cross section area (m2) x water speed (ms-1) x correction factor
47
What are density-dependent factors?
Factors that regulate the population in proportion to its density 1. Birth and death 2. Competition for resources 3. Predation 4. Crowding 5. Parasitism 6. Infectious Disease
48
What are density-independent factors?
Factors that affect population size regardless of the density 1. Major changes or disturbance to the environment (bushfire, drought, flood) - Natural or caused by human activity - Flood, bushfire 2. The conditions in which the species can survive (tolerance range for various abiotic factors) - Temperature - Sunlight - Soil or water pH - Salinity - Humidity - Wind strength - Water availability - Pressure (water depth)
49
Define natality.
Increases population size through reproduction (births)
50
Emigration vs immigration?
Emigration: Decreases population size due to loss to external populations (moving out) Immigration: Increases population size from external populations (moving in)
51
Define mortality.
Decreases population size as a result of death
52
What is the equation for population growth?
Population Size (Growth) = (N + I) – (M + E)
53
What characterizes exponential population growth?
Occurs when environmental conditions are favorable and resources are abundant
54
What is carrying capacity?
The size of the population that can be supported indefinitely on the available resources of an ecosystem
55
What does a J-shaped curve represent?
Population explosion during exponential growth
56
What does an S-shaped curve represent?
Logistic growth affected by density-dependent factors
57
What is a habitat?
Where an organism or a community of organisms lives, including all living and nonliving factors
58
How does energy enter the ecosystem?
Through solar radiation
59
What is the primary source of energy in food webs?
The sun
60
What is photosynthesis?
The process by which plants convert solar energy into chemical energy
61
What happens to energy as it moves through trophic levels?
Energy decreases as chemical energy is lost
62
What role do chloroplasts play in plants?
Absorb light using chlorophyll pigments for photosynthesis
63
Define autotroph.
Organisms that produce their own food from sunlight or chemical energy
64
What is energy required for in all cells?
All processes of life.
65
What is carbon fixation?
Use of energy and inorganic compounds to make organic ones containing carbon and hydrogen.
66
What are the two types of autotrophs?
* Chemosynthetic * Photosynthetic
67
What do heterotrophs obtain their organic compounds from?
Autotrophs or other heterotrophs.
68
What are the five main types of heterotrophs?
* Herbivores * Carnivores * Parasites * Detritivores * Decomposers
69
What percentage of energy is typically passed from one trophic level to the next?
About 10%.
70
What is primary productivity?
Production of chemical energy in organic compounds by producers.
71
What is the equation for net primary productivity?
Net primary productivity = gross primary productivity - metabolism.
72
Define ecological efficiency.
The measure of how effectively energy is transferred between trophic levels.
73
What is a keystone species?
A species that plays a unique and crucial role in an ecosystem's function.
74
What are the two types of ecological niches?
* Fundamental niche * Realised niche
75
What does the competitive exclusion principle state?
Two species can't coexist if they occupy exactly the same niche.
76
What is resource partitioning?
When competing species use the environment differently to coexist.
77
What are biogeochemical cycles?
The movement of elements or compounds between living and nonliving forms in the biosphere.
78
What is the primary role of the water cycle?
Constant movement of water through the environment.
79
What is the greenhouse effect?
CO2 absorbs heat, insulating Earth and increasing atmospheric temperature.
80
What is nitrogen fixation?
The conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia by certain bacteria.
81
What are the four types of bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle?
* Saprophytic soil bacteria * Nitrifying bacteria * Nitrogen-fixing bacteria * Denitrifying bacteria
82
What is ecological succession?
The process by which the structure of a biological community changes over time.
83
What is a sere?
A series of communities formed over time during ecological succession.
84
What are pioneer species?
Organisms that colonize barren habitats and alter the environment for other species.
85
What differentiates primary succession from secondary succession?
Primary occurs on barren rock, while secondary follows a disturbance in an existing ecosystem.
86
What is the purpose of the fossil record?
To identify changes in biotic and abiotic factors in the past.
87
What are some human activities that impact ecosystems?
* Land clearing * Habitat fragmentation * Pollution * Introduced species * Monoculture
Biology unit 3 & 4
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