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Biology > Biodiversity > Flashcards

Biodiversity Flashcards

1
Q

Adaptation

A

A feature of an organism that enhances its ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

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2
Q

Biodiversity

A

The range of living organisms and their environments

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3
Q

Ecosystem

A

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environments.

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4
Q

Biotic

A

The living components in the environment.

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5
Q

Abiotic

A

The non-living physical factors that affect an organism’s ability to survive.

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6
Q

Hierarchical

A

Relating to the graded organisation of grouping from general to very specific subgroups.

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7
Q

Classification

A

Grouping of organisms based on similarities in morphology, anatomy and biochemistry.

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8
Q

Asexual Reproduction

A

The production of genetically identical offspring from a single parent.

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9
Q

Sexual Reproduction

A

The production of offspring that has genetic material from two parents.

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10
Q

Taxonomy

A

The science of naming and classifying living organisms.

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11
Q

Taxon

A

(Plural taxa) any group in a biological classification into which related organisms are classified, for example phylum, class etc.

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12
Q

Mutation

A

Small permanent change in the DNA of an organism.

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13
Q

Species

A

Taxonomic group, allocated two (genus and specific) names; only members of the same species can produce fertile offspring when mating under natural conditions.

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14
Q

Genus

A

Classification category between family and species; first part of the scientific name of an organism.

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15
Q

Family

A

Subdivision of an order in the classification of living things.

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16
Q

Order

A

Subdivision of a class in the classification of living things.

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17
Q

Class

A

One of the groups used n the classification of organisms consisting of a number of orders, for example animals in class mammalia all share specific characteristics.

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18
Q

Phylum

A

Major classification group of the animal kingdom.

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19
Q

Division

A

Major classification group of the plants, fungi and plant-like features.

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20
Q

Domain

A

Broadest taxonomic group

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21
Q

Binomial Nomenclature

A

Method of naming species or organisms with two parts: the generic and specific names eg. Eucalyptus crebra

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22
Q

Specific Name

A

The descriptive name of a species.

23
Q

Extremophiles

A

Organisms that live in extreme environments.

24
Q

Reproductive Isolation

A

Inability of different populations or species to successfully interbreed due to behavioural, structural or physiological features of the organism.

25
Q

Hybrid

A

Offspring resulting from a cross between parents that are genetically unalike, for example, two closely related species or varieties within a species.

26
Q

Apomixis

A

Asexual reproduction.

27
Q

Parthenogenesis

A

Reproduction from an ovum without fertilisation in animals.

28
Q

Variety

A

A group that distinctly differs from other varieties, for example a poodle and a Great Dane.

29
Q

Geographic Isolation

A

A physical barrier that prevents interbreeding between members of different populations of a species.

30
Q

Subspecies

A

A rank immediately below a species; a population that is genetically distinguishable from other populations of the same species in a particular geographic region, capable of interbreeding successfully where ranges overlap.

31
Q

Race

A

One group of a population that is genetically different from other groups as a result of having a different range.

32
Q

Diagnostic Feature

A

Any feature used to separate groups in the classification of organisms.

33
Q

Homologous Structures

A

Similar structures with slightly different functions, indicating a shared ancestry.

34
Q

Divergent Evolution

A

Evolution that leads to descendants becoming different in form from their common ancestor.

35
Q

Analogous Structure

A

Structure with a similar function but no structural relationship.

36
Q

Convergent Evolution

A

The independent development of similarities between species as a result of their having similar ecological roles and selection pressures.

37
Q

Vestigial Structure

A

A structure with no apparent function, but which may have had a function in an ancestral species.

38
Q

Embryology

A

Growth and development of zygote until birth.

39
Q

Geographic Distribution

A

The natural range of the various forms of animals and plants in the different regions and localities of the Earth.

40
Q

Phylogeny

A

The evolutionary history of a kind of organism.

41
Q

Cladistics

A

A method of grouping organisms that uses evolutionary lines of descent rather than structural similarities.

42
Q

Shared Characteristics

A

A feature that all members of a group have in common.

43
Q

Derived Characteristics

A

A feature that sets members of that cade apart from other individuals.

44
Q

Cladogram

A

A branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships between a number of species.

45
Q

Plesiomorphy

A

An ancestral characteristic or trait that is shared by two or more taxa.

46
Q

Apomorphy

A

A specialised trait or characteristic unique to a group or species.

47
Q

Clade

A

A group of organisms that is believed to comprise a common ancestor and all of its evolutionary descendants.

48
Q

Karyotype

A

The number and appearance of chromosomes in the cell nuclei of an organism or species.

49
Q

Molecular Analysis

A

A branch of biochemistry in which the molecular basis of biological activity of molecules such as DNA, RNA and proteins is studied.

50
Q

Molecular Clock

A

A technique that uses the mutation rate to deduce when two or more life forms diverge.

51
Q

Immunological Difference

A

The degree of difference between two proteins.

52
Q

DNA-Hybridisation

A

A technique that measures the degree of genetic similarity between the DNA sequences of different individuals.

53
Q

Mitochondrial DNA

A

A double-stranded DNA only found in the mitochondria; in most eukaryotes in a circular and is maternally inherited.

54
Q

Dichotomous Key

A

Identification key with only two alternatives at each stage.

Biology (14 decks)

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