Environmental Science - Ch 3

Question 1

Classification of Organisms (From Top to Bottom)

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Species

Answer 2

Taxonomic classification of a population of organisms whose members can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Question 3

Population

Answer 3

A group of a particular species that live in the same geographic area

Question 4

Evolution

Answer 4

Change in population over time due to alterations in genetic material (DNA), resulting in new behavioral and physical characteristics

Question 5

Natural Selection

Answer 5

A process where inherited characteristics that enhance survival are passed along to future generations more frequently than those characteristics that do not enhance survival

Question 6

Survival of the Fittest

Answer 6

Organisms who are better adapted to the environment will be the ones who survive and successfully reproduce. They will pass those adaptions on to their offspring.

Question 7

Adaption

Answer 7

Characteristics that increase reproductive success will spread over time throughout the population.

Question 8

Genes

Answer 8

Segments of DNA that carry information that determines physical traits and functions.

Question 9

Mutation

Answer 9

A mistake that occurs during replication.

Question 10

Speciation

Answer 10

The process by which new species are generated

Question 11

Phylogenetic Tree

Answer 11

Diagram that depicts the evolutionary relationships between organisms

Question 12

Ecology

Answer 12

Study of the interactions among organisms and with their environment

Question 13

Organism

Answer 13

Single living thing

Question 14

Community

Answer 14

All of the populations of different species that live and interact in an area

Question 15

Ecosystems

Answer 15

Communities and all of the abiotic parts of the environment

Question 16

Ecosystem Ecology

Answer 16

Studies the flow of energy and nutrients between the living and nonliving parts of the community

Question 17

Biosphere

Answer 17

The sum total of all living things and habitats on Earth

Question 18

Landscape Ecology

Answer 18

Examines how ecosystems, communities and populations are distributed across the Earth

Question 19

Habitat

Answer 19

The environment in which each organism lives

Question 20

Population Size

Answer 20

The number of organisms in an area at a given time

Question 21

Population Density

Answer 21

The number of individuals per unit area

Question 22

Population Distribution

Answer 22

The spatial arrangement of organisms within an area

Question 23

Random Distribution

Answer 23

No particular pattern

Question 24

Uniform Distribution

Answer 24

Individuals spaced evenly throughout the area

Question 25

Clumped Distribution

Answer 25

Individuals concentrate in certain areas

Question 26

Sex Ratio

Answer 26

Proportions of males to females in a population

Question 27

Age Structure

Answer 27

Number of individuals of different ages in a population

Question 28

Natality

Answer 28

Births within a population

Question 29

Mortality

Answer 29

Deaths within a population

Question 30

Immigration

Answer 30

Arrival of individuals from outside the population

Question 31

Emigration

Answer 31

Departure of individuals from the population

Question 32

Rate of Natural Increase

Answer 32

Birth rate - Death rate

Question 33

Population Growth Rate

Answer 33

The effects of immigration and emigration (Birth rate - Death rate) + (Immigration rate - Emigration rate)

Question 34

Survivorship Curves

Answer 34

Graphs that show the proportion of a population that survives from one age to the next

Question 35

Type III Survivorship Curves

Answer 35

Occur when many offspring are produced but there is little parental investment

Question 36

Type II Survivorship Curves

Answer 36

Mortality occurs at approximately the same rate throughout the life cycle

Question 37

Type I Survivorship Curves

Answer 37

Significant investment in parental care. Survivorship rate of the young is high.

Question 38

Exponential Growth

Answer 38

Occurs when a population is small, competition is minimal, and environmental conditions are ideal

Question 39

Carrying Capacity

Answer 39

The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain

Question 40

Logistical Growth

Answer 40

Population growth slows as it reaches carrying capacity

Question 41

Density Dependent Factors

Answer 41

Rise and fall with the population density

Question 42

Examples of Density Dependent Factors

Answer 42

Predators, Diseases

Question 43

Density Independent Factors

Answer 43

Unaffected by population density

Question 44

Examples of Density Independent Factors

Answer 44

Temperature extremes, catastrophic natural disasters