Biodiversity Unit Vocab

Question 1

Species

Answer 1

A group of living things with similar traits that can reproduce to create living and fertile offspring.

Question 2

Population

Answer 2

A group of individuals of the same species living in an area.

Question 3

Community

Answer 3

A group of different populations of different species living together in an area.

Question 4

Biological Diversity

Answer 4

The variety of living organisms.

Question 5

Behavioural Adaptation

Answer 5

Something an organism does to help it to survive.

Question 6

Physical (Structural) Adaptation

Answer 6

Something an organism has to help it survive.

Question 7

Broad Niche

Answer 7

Organisms with adaptations that allow them to survive in more than one environment.

Question 8

Narrow Niche

Answer 8

Organisms that have adapted to survive in only one kind of environment. (Specialists)

Question 9

Interdependence

Answer 9

How all species within an ecosystem depend on each other.

Question 10

Symbiosis

Answer 10

A type of interdependence between two different species that has developed over a long period of time.

Question 11

Commensalism

Answer 11

One organism benefits while the other is unafected.

Question 12

Mutualism

Answer 12

Both organisms benefit from the relationship.

Question 13

Parasitism

Answer 13

One organism benefits while the other is harmed.

Question 14

Natural Selection

Answer 14

When only those organisms with the best traits are able to survive and reproduce.

Question 15

Speciation

Answer 15

The creation of new species from a common ancestor over time.

Question 16

Asexual Reproduction

Answer 16

When only one parent is needed to create offspring.

The offspring are identical to the parent. This is called clones

Question 17

Sexual Reproduction

Answer 17

When two parents are needed to create offspring.

The offspring will have a mix of traits from both parents.

Question 18

Binary Fission

Answer 18

When a single-celled organism reproduces by dividing itself into two identical clones.

Ex: unicellular organisms like amoebas and bacteria

Question 19

Budding

Answer 19

When an organism reproduces by creating small “buds” that grow into clones of the parent.

Ex: yeast and coral

Question 20

Spores

Answer 20

Seed-like structures that produce clones of the parent organism.

Ex: mushrooms and ferns

Question 21

Vegetative Reproduction

Answer 21

When a plant makes clones of itself

Ex: runners, cuttings, tubers

Question 22

Gametes

Answer 22

Male and female half cells. Egg and sperm

Question 23

Stamen

Answer 23

Stamen (anther & filament) - the male reproductive organ that produces pollen

Question 24

Pistil

Answer 24

Pistil (style, stigma, ovary, & ovule) - the female reproductive organ that contains the egg in the ovule.

Question 25

Pollination

Answer 25

When the pollen from the stamen of one plant reaches the pistil of another plant

Question 26

Zygote

Answer 26

The fertilized egg

Question 27

Embryo

Answer 27

A zygote divided many times

Question 28

Continuous Varitaion

Answer 28

Means that there are many different forms of an inherited trait.

Question 29

Discrete Variation

Answer 29

Means that there are only a few forms of an inherited trait

Question 30

DNA

Answer 30

Your genetic code that determines all of your heritable traits.

Question 31

Chromosome

Answer 31

A long strand of DNA that has been wound up.

Question 32

Gene

Answer 32

A small section of a chromosome that determines one of your heritable traits.

Question 33

Mutation

Answer 33

Changes to your DNA

Question 34

Biotechnology

Answer 34

When humans change the DNA of an organism for our own benefit.

Question 35

Mitosis

Answer 35

When your body makes copies of its cells for growth or repair.

Question 36

Meiosis

Answer 36

When your body makes gametes for sexual reproduction.

Question 37

Natural Selection

Answer 37

The process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change

Question 38

Artificial Selection

Answer 38

When humans choose which males and females of a species will reproduce.

Question 39

Extirpation

Answer 39

When a species no longer exists in a certain area but still exists elsewhere in the world.

Question 40

Bioindicator Species

Answer 40

A plant or animal species that can help indicate the overall health of an ecosystem.