1.1 Flashcards
Biodiversity (22 cards)
What is biodiversity?
The number and variety of species and ecosystems on Earth.
What are the three components of biodiversity?
Species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
What is a heterotroph?
An organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms.
What is an autotroph?
An organism that creates usable energy from light, minerals, and gases.
How is a species defined?
A group of organisms that can breed successfully to produce viable and fertile offspring.
How many species are estimated to exist on Earth?
8.7-100 million species.
How many species have been described by scientists?
Approximately 1.2 million.
What is species diversity?
The variety and abundance of species in a given area.
What is genetic diversity?
The variety of heritable characteristics in a healthy breeding population.
Why is genetic diversity important for a population?
It prevents susceptibility to disease and other genetic problems.
What does ‘heritable’ mean?
Inherited from parent to offspring.
What is a monoculture in agriculture?
A farm that cultivates only one crop on a plot of land, resulting in low genetic diversity.
What is a polyculture in agriculture?
A farm that cultivates multiple crops on the same plot of land, resulting in high genetic diversity.
What is ecosystem diversity?
The variety of ecosystems in the biosphere.
What is an ecosystem?
A community of living organisms interacting with their non-living abiotic environment.
What are abiotic factors?
Physical factors not derived from living organisms (e.g., temperature, water salinity, soil pH).
How is a simplified diversity index calculated?
Number of species ÷ Total number of organisms.
Why does disease spread more slowly in a diverse ecosystem?
Different species are spread out, preventing widespread infection of a single species.
What are three cultural benefits of ecosystems?
Recreation, education, and spirituality.
Name three products obtained from ecosystems.
Wood, food, and medicines.
What are three environmental benefits of ecosystems?
Oxygen production, climate moderation, and pollutant reduction.
How do ecosystems provide economic benefits?
They prevent erosion and flooding.
