Taxonomy, Variation, and Biodiversity - A9

Question 1

Define species.

Answer 1

A group of organisms that are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Question 2

What is phylogeny?

Answer 2

The study of evolutionary history of groups or organisms

Question 3

What does phylogeny tell us about organisms?

Answer 3

It tells us how closely related species are.

Question 4

What is shown on a phylogenetic tree?

Answer 4

That all organisms have evolved from a shared common ancestor.
Also shows the most recent/distant common ancestor.

Question 5

What does each branch represent on a phylogenetic tree?

Answer 5

-Each branch point represents a common ancestor
-The first branch point represents a common ancestor of all family members - now extinct

Question 6

Define hierarchy.

Answer 6

Groups within groups with no overlap.

Question 7

True or false: taxonomy is hierarchical.

Answer 7

true

Question 8

What is taxonomy/classification?

Answer 8

Naming organisms and organising them into groups- easier to identify and study

Question 9

What is the taxa?

Answer 9

The 8 levels of groups of taxonomy - each group is called a taxon

Question 10

How are the groups arranged in the taxa?

Answer 10

-The groups are arranged in hierarchy with the largest groups at the top.
-organisms can only belong to one group at each level ->no overlap

Question 11

What are the three domains?

Answer 11

Eukaryota, prokaryota, archaea

Question 12

What is the order of the 8 taxa?

Answer 12

Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 13

How are organisms grouped in a classification system?

Answer 13

Grouped by hierarchy

Question 14

What are the phylogenetic groups?

Answer 14

Groups based on evolutionary links

Question 15

What is the binomial naming system?

Answer 15

-first name - Genus - Caps
-last name - species- lower case

Question 16

What is courtship behaviour?

Answer 16

Behaviour used by organisms to attract a mate of the correct species.

Question 17

What are the two different types of courtship behaviour?

Answer 17

-simples: releasing a chemical(pheromones), using sound, visual display
-complex: dancing. building(a nest)

Question 18

What does it mean if courtship behaviour is species specific?

Answer 18

Only members of same species will do and respond to courtship behaviour

Question 19

What does it mean if the courtship behaviour of two organisms are similar?

Answer 19

The more similar courtship behaviour, the more closely related.

Question 20

What does it mean if members of the same species can recognise each other?

Answer 20

It prevents inbreeding which leads to more successful reproduction.

Question 21

How do courtship behaviours increase the probability of successful mating?

Answer 21

-attract the same species
-stimulates release of gametes
-attraction of opposite sex
-indication of sexual maturity
-formation of bond between organisms/pair bond

Question 22

How is genome sequencing used in classification?

Answer 22

-entire base sequences of an organism’s DNA can be determined
-compare DNA base sequences between different organisms to see how closely related they are
-closely related species will have a higher percentage of similarity in their DNA base sequence

Question 23

How are proteins used for comparing how closely related organisms are?

Answer 23

You can compare the amino acid/primary sequences of the same protein from different species to determine how closely related they are. This is because the amino acid sequence is coded for by the DNA base sequence.

Question 24

What does it mean for an organism’s relation if the amino acid sequence is similar?

Answer 24

The ore similar the amino acid sequence, the more closely related the species are and share a more recent common ancestor.

Question 25

Why is comparing amino acid sequences not as accurate as comparing DNA base sequences?

Answer 25

Not as accurate as comparing DNA base sequences because the genetic code is degenerate so there may be the same amino acid sequence coded for by different DNA base sequences. -"they have 'x' amino acid different" "closely related/ most recent common ancestor" -have to link to different amino acids to different base sequences

Question 26

What are the different things you should compare to see how closely related organisms are?

Answer 26

-DNA base sequences -mRNA base sequences -amino acid sequences -courtship behaviours -observable features(this is not the best exam answer)

Question 27

What are immunological comparisons?

Answer 27

As antibodies are proteins, similar proteins will also bind to the same amino acids.

Question 28

**How** can immunological comparisons be used to determine how closely related species are?

Answer 28

Proteins that bind antibodies will often form a precipitate in a solution. The more antibodies bind, the more precipitate will form, therefore the mass of the precipitate could be used to determine how similar the two proteins and therefore species are.

Question 29

Define biodiversity.

Answer 29

The number of species and the number of individuals of each of the species within any one community.

Question 30

Define community.

Answer 30

All the individuals of all the species living together in the same area at the same time.

Question 31

Define habitat.

Answer 31

The place where an organisms lives.

Question 32

Define species richness.

Answer 32

The number of different species in a community.

Question 33

What are the two different levels of biodiversity?

Answer 33

Local biodiversity and global biodiversity.

Question 34

What is local biodiversity?

Answer 34

The variety of different species living in a small habitat e.g. a pond or a meadow. Some habitats will be more diverse than others.

Question 35

What is global biodiversity?

Answer 35

The variety of species on Earth. Biodiversity differs in different parts of the world - greatest at the equators and decreases towards the poles.

Question 36

How do we measure biodiversity?

Answer 36

Species richness can be a measure of biodiversity however, the populations of those species also affect the biodiversity. We use an index of biodiversity to calculate biodiversity.

Question 37

**How** does biodiversity index measure?

Answer 37

Measures the biodiversity using an equation.

Question 38

What does the biodiversity index take into consideration?

Answer 38

Takes into consideration both the number of species in a community(species richness) and the abundance of each species(population size) into account.

Question 39

What is the diversity index?

Answer 39

The higher the no., the greater the diversity. The no. of species and the no. of individuals of each species within one community.

Question 40

What is the equation for the diversity index?

Answer 40

d= N(N-1)/En(n-1) d-species diversity index N- no. of total organisms n- no. of each species E- sum of

Question 41

What is the agriculture effect on biodiversity?

Answer 41

remove habitats/monocultures/herbicides ->reduced no. of plant species -> reduced no of food(sources) available/ reduced types of habitats -> reduced no. of animal species( could also be caused by insecticides(pesticides)) All of this reduces biodiversity.

Question 42

Define monocultures.

Answer 42

Grow one type of crop on a massive field.

Question 43

What are the positive effects of replanting?

Answer 43

increased pollinators which pollinates crops to help them grow -more income -increase biodiversity so increase predators of pests -increased predators of pests so more yield/income/less crop damage

Question 44

Define agriculture.

Answer 44

Producing resources we need from the environment - clothes, food, medicines, fuels

Question 45

Why are conservation schemes important?

Answer 45

We need to maintain the environment as it provides us with new sources of food, medicines, and it benefits agriculture e.g. wide vareity of insects to pollinate crops.

Question 46

What are the ethical reasons for conserving biodiversity?

Answer 46

-prevents extinction of species -prevents the loss of populations of organisms -prevents loss of habitats

Question 47

What are the economical reasons for conserving biodiversity?

Answer 47

-medical uses -tourism -boosts agriculture