module 3 biological diversity

Question 1

Define ecosystem

Answer 1

A community together with its environment; any environment containing organisms interacting with

Question 2

define biotic

Answer 2

living

Question 3

biotic factors

Answer 3

sources of food, number of predators etc. competition between species or within species,

Question 4

define abiotic

Answer 4

non-living

Question 5

abiotic factors

Answer 5

Climate, light, temperature wind speed sunshine water altitude

Question 6

What does the abiotic and biotic factors determine

Answer 6

The distribution of organisms – where organisms are found in the ecosystem

2. The diversity of organisms – the different type of organisms
3. The abundance of organisms – how many organisms are present

Question 7

explain structural adaptations

Answer 7

things you can see, body shape, anatomical features that assists an organism to adapt to abiotic or biotic environment

Question 8

explain behavioural adaptations

Answer 8

actions that an organism takes to improve survival

Question 9

examples of structural adaptations

Answer 9

e.g. large ears, sunken stomata, flying fish body shape

Question 10

examples of behavioural adaptations

Answer 10

seeking shad or shelter, migration

Question 11

explain physiological adaptations

Answer 11

inner body functions

Question 12

examples of physiological adaptations

Answer 12

e.g. production of concentrated urine, venom, shivering to maintain body temperature, antifreeze in arctic plant

Question 13

who was natural selection discovered by

Answer 13

charles darwin

Question 14

what is natural selection

Answer 14

the process by which the environment selects characteristics that are favourable to a species survival determining if they live or die out

Question 15

what does natural selection rely on

Answer 15

variations in the population –> variations are a result of a random mutation –> resulting in a new characteristic being introduced into a species

Question 16

example of natural selection

Answer 16

peppered moth

Question 17

convergent evolution

Answer 17

The evolution through natural selection of similar features in unrelated groups of organisms

Question 18

example of convergent evolution

Answer 18

dolphin and sharks

Question 19

divergent evolution

Answer 19

Separated populations typically diverge (may be from genetic drift or natural selection) causing separated populations to gradually become different

Question 20

example of divergent evolution

Answer 20

Galapagos finches

Question 21

what is the purpose of selective breeding

Answer 21

to breed livestock to meet specific requirements, especially food

Question 22

why is selective breeding used

Answer 22

• The technique is to identify desirable qualities e.g. good quality meat/ high meat production and breed together individuals with those qualities, so the trait is reliably passed on.

Question 23

example of selective breeding

Answer 23

Belgian blue cowsq