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Unit 1: Biology > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

population

A

a group of individuals belonging to the same species, living in the same habitat at the same time/ members of a species in one place at one time

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2
Q

community

A

sum of all the living organisms/biotic factors in a habitat

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3
Q

habitat

A

area/environment where an individual or species lives within an ecosystem

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4
Q

ecosystem

A

the interaction between the environment and its community

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5
Q

endemic

A

a species that i native to a particular geographic region (not introduced)

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6
Q

biological hotspot

A

a reservoir of the mos diverse, yet most threatened, sites of biodiversity on the planet. The are extremely important to conserve due to the large number of endemic species found in the area.

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7
Q

biome

A

the main category of an ecosystem across a large geographical area

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8
Q

limiting factor

A

element of the environment that restricts the survival of an organism to a region

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9
Q

tolerance range

A

a set of abiotic conditions in which an organism, cell or enzyme functions at its optimal

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10
Q

zone of intolerance

A

set of abiotic conditions in which an organism cannot function

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11
Q

zone of physiological stress

A

a set of abiotic conditions in which an organism finds it difficult to function

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12
Q

humus

A

organic matter in soil, derived from decomposed plant and animal remains

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13
Q

dominant species

A

the most common or abundant species in a particular ecosystem

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14
Q

eutrophication

A

increased concentration of nutrients, phosphates and nitrates that produce algal bloom

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15
Q

closed ecosystem

A

one that is self replenishing, in which life can be maintained without external factors

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16
Q

open ecosystem

A

one that is affected and can rely on external factors

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17
Q

ecological niche

A

the way a species functions within its environment/the role of an individual in a habitat. This includes all of the resources it exploits

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18
Q

resource partitioning

A

the use of resources that allows a number of species to coexist in an ecosystem

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19
Q

competition exclusion principle

A

the theory that no two similar species can occupy the same niche for an extended period of time, one’s population will increase while the other’s declines

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20
Q

competition

A

struggle between two or more individuals/species for resources to fulfill their need for survival

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21
Q

collaboration

A

a symbiotic relationship where both benefit but neither are dependent on the relationship for survival i.e. sea anemone living on the shell of a crab

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22
Q

intraspecific

A

relationships between members of the same species

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23
Q

interspecific

A

relationship between members of difference species

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24
Q

predator-prey

A

one organism (predator) kills and consumes another organism (prey)

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25
Q

symbiotic relationship

A

the relationship where individuals of two or more different species live together and at least on benefits

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26
Q

parasitism

A

one species benefits (parasite) at the expense of the other (host). Shapes the unique diversity of a region i.e.native mistletoe is a parasitic plant that is spread by the mistletoe bird to eucalypts and kills them

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27
Q

mutualism

A

both species benefits and neither is harmed. These organisms work together i.e. pistol shrimp (relatively blind but digs burrows for protection) and goby fish (uses burrow and protects shrimp from predator)

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28
Q

commensalism

A

one species benefits and the other is neither harmed or benefits i.e. egret and livestock, egret has better vantage point to spot insects and livestock disturbs insects in the grass

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29
Q

intimate relationship

A

type of mutualism- one organism lives inside the cells of the other i.e. many marine organisms have algae living in their tissues, the algae need nitrates and phosphates for their metabolism. These are from the waste materials of their animal partner. The animal partner is careful to ensure that its algae are always exposed to light because they benefit from the organic compound produced by the algae

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30
Q

coexistence

A

different species living together peacefully

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31
Q

keystone species

A

a species of relatively low abundance that is seen to have a large influence over lower trophic levels to allow the coexistence of these species

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32
Q

ammensalism

A

one organism inhibits the other

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33
Q

carbohydrate

A

glucose molecule linked together into a long chain

34
Q

cellulose

A

a carbohydrate that is used to build cell walls and forms most of the plant material

35
Q

starch

A

another glucose polymer used as an energy store for plants during periods of reduced sunlight

36
Q

photosynthetic efficiency

A

how well a producer converts light energy into carbohydrates during photosynthesis- depends on the availability of raw materials, sunlight and temperature

37
Q

biomass

A

total amount of matter (mass) of living material in an ecosystem at a particular time. It is the rate of change of biomass over one year and is expressed in either of the following

  • mass: gm-2year-1
  • energy: kJm-2year-1
38
Q

gross primary production (GPP)

A

total organism matter in an ecosystem/specified area made via photosynthesis

39
Q

net primary production (NPP)

A

amount of organism matter available to herbivores

40
Q

trophic efficiency

A

percentage of energy at one trophic level that ends up in the next trophic level

41
Q

producers

A

organism capable of making its own food from inorganic substances through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis

42
Q

consumers

A

organism that depends on other organisms for nutrients and energy requirements

43
Q

decomposers

A

an organism that breaks down complex organic matter into simpler matter

44
Q

detritivore

A

an organism that feeds on small pieces of dead plant or animal matter

45
Q

biological magnification

A

the accumalation of non-biodegradable matter in the tissues of one organism, passed along from the previous one in the food chain

46
Q

nutrient cycling

A

the way in which matter nutrients are cycled between the living and non-living components of an ecosystem

47
Q

r-selected species

A

fast growing and reproducing organism, often the first to occupy unused resources and living space

48
Q

r-selection

A

describes population growth, opportunistic species quickly colonise an unstable ecosystem, leading to a pattern of rapid population increase and decrease (or crash) and eventual take over by competitors

49
Q

k-selected species

A

slow growing, long lived species typical of those in a climax community

50
Q

distribution

A

the places in the ecosystem where individuals of species are found

51
Q

k-selection

A

while some organisms may not survive initially, over the long term a sustainable population can be maintained

52
Q

abundance

A

the number of species in a population

53
Q

population density

A

number of individuals in a given area- can use biomass/volume for smaller organisms

54
Q

carrying capacity

A

maximum population size of a species that can be supported in a given environment

55
Q

environmental resistance

A

factors in the environment adversely acting on a population

56
Q

density dependent factors

A

can only affect a population when it reaches a certain density

57
Q

natality

A

the number of new members of the species due to reproduction

58
Q

mortality

A

the number of deaths

59
Q

immigration

A

members arriving from other places

60
Q

emigration

A

members leaving the population

61
Q

pest

A

a species whose population increases enormously at the expense of others when environmental conditions change

62
Q

ecological succession

A

change in the abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem

63
Q

primary succession

A

new species populate a previously lifeless area i.e. newly created volcanic island

64
Q

secondary succession

A

new groupd of organisms takes over following a natural/artificial upheaval of the primary succession i.e. after a fire

65
Q

sink

A

a reservoir of material or energy

66
Q

source

A

the place of origin of material or energy

67
Q

biodiversity

A
  1. all the genes with a species all the species in an ecosystem and all the ecosystems in the biosphere
  2. a measure of the variety of organisms in an environment as indicated by the number of species, the size of their populations and their genetic diversity
68
Q

genes

A

sequence of nucleotides that codes for a specific trait or characteristic

69
Q

species

A
  1. a group of organisms which are interbreeding in their natural environment and producing viable offspring
  2. a group of organisms that are structurally and functionally very similar, DNA is very similar too
70
Q

latitudinal gradient

A

biodiversity varies over different terrestrial regions, terrestrial diversity depends on temperature, rainfall, altitude, soils, geography and the presence of other species

71
Q

diversity

A

the range of types of organisms living in an environment

72
Q

common ancestor

A

organism from which different species evolved from

73
Q

classification

A

the arrangement of organisms in taxonomic groups according to their observed similarities

74
Q

morphology

A

branch of biology that deals with the structure and form of organisms

75
Q

cladistics

A

grouping organisms based on common ancestry

76
Q

clade

A

group of organisms relating to a common ancestor (ancestor and all its descendants)

77
Q

phylogenetic

A

a system of classification based on morphological features and ancestry

78
Q

monophyletic

A

a group of organisms that belong to one clade (ancestor and all its descendants)

79
Q

paraphyletic

A

a taxonomic group that includes some but not all of the descendants of a common ancestor.

80
Q

speciation

A

the process an organism group has gone through to gain different features and can no longer breed with its original group

81
Q

criterion

A

basis on which a comparison can be made

82
Q

chitin

A

tough cellulose

Unit 1: Biology (6 decks)

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