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Unit 3 Topic 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an organism?

A

Individual living form of life (plants, animals, fungi)

Organisms are the basic units of life.

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2
Q

Define population.

A

Group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

Populations are essential for studying species interactions.

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3
Q

What is a community?

A

Collection of all populations that live and interact in one area defined by food webs

Communities involve multiple species coexisting and interacting.

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4
Q

Define ecosystem.

A

A community of organisms and their interconnected physical and chemical environment (made of biotic and abiotic factors)

Ecosystems include both living and non-living components.

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5
Q

What are abiotic factors?

A

Non-living factors in an environment (climate, substrate, size/depth of an area)

Abiotic factors significantly influence ecosystem dynamics.

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6
Q

Define biotic factors.

A

Living parts of an ecosystem (plants, animals, bacteria)

Biotic factors are crucial for the functioning of ecosystems.

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7
Q

What are species interactions resulting from living organisms?

A

Predation, disease, competition, symbiosis, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism

These interactions shape community structure and dynamics.

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8
Q

Define biome.

A

A group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms (desert, grassland, aquatic, forest, tundra)

Biomes are large ecological areas on the Earth’s surface.

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9
Q

What characterizes a desert biome?

A

Little to no rainfall; very hot or very cold

Deserts have extreme conditions that limit biodiversity.

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10
Q

Define aquatic biome.

A

All bodies of water on Earth (fresh + salt water)

Aquatic biomes support a wide variety of life forms.

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11
Q

What are grassland biomes dominated by?

A

Dominated by grass, some trees, and moderate rainfall

Grasslands are important for agriculture and biodiversity.

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12
Q

What defines forest biomes?

A

Large number of trees and the widest variety of life

Forests are crucial for carbon storage and oxygen production.

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13
Q

What are tundra biomes characterized by?

A

Tree growth hindered by low temperatures; coldest and least diverse; little rain and freezing temps

Tundras have a short growing season.

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14
Q

Define biosphere.

A

Consists of Earth viewed as an ecological system of all organisms and where they exist

The biosphere encompasses all ecosystems.

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15
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

The variety of all living things including diversity in genetics, species, and ecosystems

Biodiversity is critical for ecosystem resilience.

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16
Q

Define genetic diversity.

A

The genetic variation that occurs within species

Genetic diversity is important for survival against diseases and changing environments.

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17
Q

What is species diversity?

A

Refers to the number of species in an ecosystem

Higher species diversity often leads to greater ecosystem stability.

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18
Q

Define ecosystem diversity.

A

Variation in ecosystems found in different geographical locations

Ecosystem diversity contributes to overall biodiversity.

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19
Q

What is a quadrat?

A

A square frame used to determine species presence, species number, and species percentage coverage

Quadrats are commonly used in ecological studies.

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20
Q

What is a transect?

A

A line created to direct the sampling of an area

Transects help identify zones through variation of biotic and abiotic factors.

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21
Q

Define species richness.

A

The count of species in an ecological community

Species richness is a key component of biodiversity.

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22
Q

What is species evenness?

A

A measure of how close in number the population of two species are

Species evenness is important for understanding community structure.

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23
Q

What does Simpson’s index (D) measure?

A

The probability that two individuals randomly selected will belong to the same species

It is a common measure of biodiversity.

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24
Q

What does Simpson’s diversity index (SDI) represent?

A

The probability that two individuals randomly selected belong to different species

A higher SDI indicates greater biodiversity.

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25
Define competition in ecology.
When organisms are competing for the same resources (food, light, space) ## Footnote Competition is most intense between members of the same species.
26
What is predation?
When organisms capture, kill, and feed on other organisms (prey) ## Footnote Predation is a key interaction in ecosystems.
27
Define symbiosis.
Symbiotic relationship between two organisms where at least one benefits; includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism ## Footnote Symbiosis can greatly influence population dynamics.
28
What are pathogens?
Microorganisms that cause disease in a host ## Footnote Pathogens can significantly impact host populations.
29
Define habitat.
A specific location with a particular set of biotic and abiotic conditions where organisms live ## Footnote Habitats are critical for species survival.
30
What is a niche?
An organism's specific role/position in an environment and its interactions with biotic and abiotic factors ## Footnote Understanding niches helps explain species distributions.
31
What are tolerance limits?
The range of environmental conditions a species can survive within ## Footnote Tolerance limits are crucial for understanding species distributions.
32
Fill in the blank: Sunlight is a _______ factor important for photosynthesis.
limiting
33
Fill in the blank: Water is a _______ factor that plants need to keep water loss minimal.
limiting
34
Fill in the blank: Temperature is a _______ factor linked to water availability.
limiting
35
Fill in the blank: Mineral ions are a _______ factor that plants require to build organic molecules.
limiting
36
Fill in the blank: Salinity is a _______ factor that requires adaptations to maintain correct solute levels.
limiting
37
What factors need to be considered for species survival?
* Availability of resources * Weather + climate * Interactions with other organisms * Human impact ## Footnote These factors can greatly influence species populations.
38
Why are some definitions of species not satisfactory?
* May not apply to asexually reproducing organisms * May be difficult to apply to extinct organisms * Genetic traits may be difficult to analyze (not enough genetic diversity) ## Footnote These limitations complicate species classification.
39
Define hybrid.
The offspring of two different species that does not produce fertile offspring (e.g., horse/donkey = mule) ## Footnote Hybrids are often used to study genetic differences between species.
40
What is taxonomy?
The scientific study of how living things are classified ## Footnote Taxonomy is essential for biological organization.
41
What is the Linnean system?
Ranked hierarchy to place living organisms ## Footnote The Linnean system provides a standardized way to classify organisms.
42
Define clade.
A group of organisms that is believed to comprise a common ancestor and all its evolutionary descendants ## Footnote Clades are fundamental in evolutionary biology.
43
What is cladistics?
A method of grouping organisms that uses evolutionary lines of descent rather than structural similarities ## Footnote Cladistics emphasizes evolutionary relationships.
44
What is a cladogram?
Diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms ## Footnote Cladograms visually represent evolutionary history.
45
Define homologous structures.
Structures that do not perform the same functions but have arisen from a common ancestor (e.g., limbs of bats, cats, birds, horses, humans, and whales) ## Footnote Homologous structures provide evidence for common ancestry.
46
What are analogous structures?
Structures with similar functions that have evolved from different evolutionary lines (e.g., wings in birds, bats, butterflies) ## Footnote Analogous structures illustrate convergent evolution.
47
What are the assumptions of cladistics?
* Common ancestry * Bifurcations (when no new organisms arise, existing populations diverge) * Physical change ## Footnote These assumptions guide the classification of organisms.
48
What is cytochrome C?
A protein required for respiration in organisms; varies among species ## Footnote The degree of similarity indicates the closeness of evolutionary relationships.
49
Define comparative genomics.
Provides evidence for evolution and establishes likely evolutionary relationships between different species ## Footnote Techniques include sequencing of common proteins, DNA-DNA hybridization, and DNA sequencing.
50
What are R-strategist traits?
* High rates of reproduction * Short lifespan * Quick to mature * Unstable life (feast or famine) * Positive exponential growth * J-shaped curve ## Footnote R-strategists thrive in unpredictable environments.
51
What are K-strategist traits?
* Few offspring * Long-lived * High energy invested into offspring * Live in stable environment * S-shaped, logistic growth ## Footnote K-strategists are adapted to stable environments.
52
What is ecological succession?
The gradual process by which the species composition of a community changes, caused by the modification of the habitat by current organisms ## Footnote Succession can be primary or secondary.
53
Define primary succession.
An ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed (e.g., lava flow, sand dune, new island) ## Footnote Primary succession starts from bare substrates.
54
What is secondary succession?
Changes that occur in an already established environment but the original community has undergone a severe event (e.g., fire, tree logging, natural disasters, human disturbance) ## Footnote Secondary succession often restores ecosystems more quickly than primary succession.
55
What are pioneer species?
The first organisms to populate an area during primary succession (e.g., lichens and mosses) ## Footnote Pioneer species are crucial for soil formation.
56
What are the properties of a pioneer species?
* Tolerate harsh conditions * Perform photosynthesis * Fix nitrogen in the soil * Undergo rapid growth and reproduction ## Footnote These traits help pioneer species establish in new environments.
57
What is the impact of pioneer species?
* Make soil fertile * Weather rock * Add nitrogen to the soil * Increase water content * Increase organic content when they die ## Footnote Pioneer species facilitate ecosystem development.
58
Define r-species.
R-strategist species that is usually an early colonizer of an environment ## Footnote R-species are important in the initial stages of succession.
59
What is a sere?
An immediate community found in ecological succession of an ecosystem advancing to the climax of the community ## Footnote Sere stages reflect the progression of ecological succession.
60
Define climax community.
Final sere in succession and most often the most mature forest ## Footnote Climax communities represent stable ecological conditions.
61
What is a subspecies?
Rank below species; a population that is genetically distinguishable from other populations of the same species in the same geographic location ## Footnote Subspecies can interbreed where their ranges overlap.
62
What is parthenogenesis?
Asexual reproduction from an ovum without fertilization in animals ## Footnote Parthenogenesis is seen in some species of reptiles and insects.
63
What is a ring species?
Populations of organisms in close proximity that are capable of reproducing with neighbors on either side; the further away, the more different until they can't reproduce ## Footnote Ring species demonstrate gradual genetic divergence.
64
Fill in the blank: The Linnean system uses _______ features to group organisms.
morphological
65
What is the mnemonic for the Linnean system?
King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup ## Footnote This mnemonic helps remember the taxonomic hierarchy.
66
How are ecosystems classified?
* Biotic factors * Abiotic factors * Different systems use different criteria ## Footnote Classification helps in understanding ecosystem functions.
67
Define stratified sampling.
The division of the physical environment into smaller components for sampling ## Footnote Stratified sampling improves the accuracy of ecological studies.
68
What is zonation?
Breaking the biome into habitat zones (e.g., barren rocks, open grassland) ## Footnote Zonation helps in understanding biodiversity distribution.

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