Ecosystems & Population Change

Question 1

What is a biosphere?

Answer 1

The largest possible ecosystem that encompasses everywhere on earth where living things can be found

Question 2

What is a niche?

Answer 2

An organisms specific role in the environment

Question 3

What is a population?

Answer 3

Organisms that belong to the same species and live together

Question 4

What is a species?

Answer 4

A group of organisms that are capable of breeding, and producing offspring who can also reproduce

Question 4

What is taxonomy?

Answer 4

The practice of classifying living things

Question 4

What is a domain?

Answer 4

A large group that encompasses all of the kingdoms of different organisms

Question 4

What is binomial nomenclature?

Answer 4

A naming system used to identify different species. Each organisms is referred to through its genus and species

Question 5

what are the 8 levels of classification?

Answer 5

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 6

What is latitude?

Answer 6

The distance of a place away from the equator

Question 7

What is altitude?

Answer 7

The height of a place above sea level

Question 8

How are biomes identified and why?

Answer 8

Through their annual temperatures and precipitation levels. Biomes are identified this way because these two factors can determine the abundance of organisms

Question 9

What is an ecotone?

Answer 9

Areas of overlap between nearby biomes, since no biome has a fixed barrier

Question 10

What is a habitat?

Answer 10

An area that is suitable to the requirments of specific organisms

Question 11

What is a species range?

Answer 11

The geographical area in which a certain species can be found

Question 12

What is biotic potential?

Answer 12

The maximum number of offspring that a population could produce if they happened to have unlimited resources

Question 13

What is carrying capacity?

Answer 13

The maximum number of individuals in a population that are able to be supported by an ecosystem

Question 14

What are density independent factors?

Answer 14

They affect members of a population, no matter how big or small it is (precipitation, climate, etc.)

Question 15

What are density dependent factors?

Answer 15

Factors that affect a population because of the actual size of that particular population (competition, disease, producers)

Question 16

What are limiting factors?

Answer 16

The factor that limits a populations growth by either slowing it or stopping it completely. Limiting factors can be abiotic and biotic

Question 17

What are abiotic limiting factors?

Answer 17

Space, temperature, available sunlight

Question 18

What are biotic limiting factors?

Answer 18

Lack of producers, predation, parasitism

Question 19

What is interspecific competition?

Answer 19

Competition that occurs between members of different species that are occupying the same niche

Question 20

What are the six most common kingdoms?

Answer 20

1) Eubacteria: simple organisms with no nucleus
2) Archaebacteria: no nucleus, heterotrophs
3) Protista: single celled organisms that produce sexually and asexually
4) Fungi: multicellular
5) Plantae:
multicellular
6) Animalia: multicellular

Question 21

What are the different types of adaptations?

Answer 21

Structural (long giraffe neck), behavioural (mating calls), functional (shivering)

Question 22

Where do adaptations come from?

Answer 22

Gradual change and variations amongst organisms. Adaptations can also stem from mutations

Question 23

What is natural selection (Charles Darwin)

Answer 23

Natural selection is an evolution theory proposed by Charles Darwin. Natural selection is based on an entire population changing over time due to their survival needs. More well known as survival of the fittest.

Question 24

What is Lamarcks theory on evolution?

Answer 24

Lamarck proposed that it is the individual that changes in its lifetime, due to an intense 'want' or 'need' of a certain adaptation. His theory is not very reliable

Question 25

What are some pieces of evidence that indicate that evolution actually happened?

Answer 25

Fossils, distribution/biogeography, anatomy, embryology, molecular biology, genetics

Question 26

What is a homologous structure?

Answer 26

A structure that has the same layout and origin as another one. They may not perform the same function, but their ancestor is common/the same

Question 27

What is an analogous structure?

Answer 27

A structure that has the same function as another, but does not share a common ancestor. (Venus flytrap and human mouth)

Question 28

How do sexual and asexual reproduction contribute to variation?

Answer 28

Organisms that use asexual reproduction will have very little inherited variation because most of the time they make clones of themselves. Organisms that use sexual reproduction are more likely to have variation since the genes from both parents are going in to the process

Question 29

What is transformation?

Answer 29

When a new species gradually develops as a result of mutation. The old species is replaced over time

Question 30

What is divergence?

Answer 30

When one or more species arise from a parent species that continues to exist (Darwins finches)

Question 31

What is allopatric speciation?

Answer 31

Physical separation of organisms, leaving them no oppourtunity to reproduce with one another. If the barriers are present for long enough, speciation will occur

Question 32

What is sympatric speciation?

Answer 32

Sympatric speciation is when an organisms behavioural traits separate them from reproducing with another organism. Behavioural traits could include one organism being nocturnal and the other not.

Question 33

What is gradualism?

Answer 33

Evolution that occurs very slowly. Small changes build over long periods of time

Question 34

What is punctuated equilibrium?

Answer 34

When there are long periods of time with little to no change (evolution), followed by rapid major changes.