Chapter 2: Biodiversity and Classification

Question 1

What is biodiversity?

Answer 1

The full range and variation of all living things in a region. Can be described in different levels, such as genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity

Question 2

What is a biodiversity hopspot?

Answer 2

An area with at least 1500 species of endemic vascular plants and that has lost more than 70% of its natural vegetation

Question 3

What is the biological species concept?

Answer 3

A definition of species based on whether members can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Question 4

What is the morphological species concept?

Answer 4

Definition of a species based on physical characteristics of members

Question 5

what is the phylogenic species concept?

Answer 5

Definition of a species that states a species is the smallest group if individuals that can be traced back to a common ancestor

Question 6

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 6

The biotic and abiotic factors and their interactions in an area

Question 7

What are 2 ways of measuring biodiversity? Explain them

Answer 7

• Spatial scales: Where individuals of the same classification group are distributed in an area
• Temporal scales: How many organisms are distributed over a period of time

Question 8

What are 4 reasons we should classify animals?

Answer 8

1. A way of organising information
2. Allows biologists to analyse information about organisms
3. Allows biologists to communicate with eachother
4. Invasive species can be identified more easily

Question 9

Name all the taxonomic levels from largest to smallest

Answer 9

Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

Question 10

What are the 3 domains?

Answer 10

Eukarya, archaea and bacteria

Question 11

What are the characteristics seperating eukaryotes and prokaryotes?

Answer 11

• Eukaryotes: Contains DNA in a nucleus, and has membrane bound organelles
• Prokaryotes: No nucleus or membrane bound organelles

Question 12

Name the 6 Kingdoms

Answer 12

• Animalia
• Plantae
• Protista
• Fungi
• Archaea
• Bacteria

Question 13

What 3 characteristics organisms be classified by?

Answer 13

• Physical characteristics
• Methods of reproduction (sexually or asexually)
• Molecular sequences (sequences in DNA)

Question 14

What are 5 characteristics of monocots?

Answer 14

• One cotyledon
• Parrallel veins
• Vascular bundles in complex arrangement
• Fibrous root system (very thin)
• Floral parts (eg. petals) in multiples of 3

Question 15

What are 5 characteristics of dicots?

Answer 15

• Two cotyledon
• Net like veins (branch out on leaf)
• Vascular bundles in ring
• Taproot usually present (large central root)
• Floral parts (eg. petals) in multiples of 4 or 5