unit A

Question 1

What is a species?

Answer 1

A particular group of organisms that have the same structure and can reproduce with each other.

Question 2

How many species of animals and plants have been identified by biologists?

Answer 2

Over 1.5 million species of animals and 350,000 species of plants.

Question 3

What is biological diversity?

Answer 3

The variety of species and ecosystems on earth and the ecological processes they are a part of.

Question 4

What are the main components of biodiversity?

Answer 4

• Ecosystem diversity
• Community diversity
• Genetic diversity
• Species distribution
• Species diversity

Question 5

Where is the greatest diversity of species typically found?

Answer 5

In tropical regions, specifically rainforests.

Question 6

What is the two-name Latin naming system developed by Carolus Linnaeus?

Answer 6

A system where organisms are referred to by their genus and species names.

Question 7

What do the first and second names in the Latin naming system represent?

Answer 7

1st represents the organism’s genus and the 2nd represents the organism’s species.

Question 8

What are the five kingdoms of life?

Answer 8

• Animalia
• Plantae
• Fungi
• Protista
• Monera

Question 9

What is interdependence in an ecosystem?

Answer 9

Each species depends on many other species within an environment to survive and prosper.

Question 10

What are the types of symbiotic relationships?

Answer 10

• Commensalism
• Mutualism
• Parasitism

Question 11

What is a niche?

Answer 11

The role of an organism within a particular ecosystem.

Question 12

What is resource partitioning?

Answer 12

The action that enables competing species to share resources by accessing them in different ways.

Question 13

What is variability in a population?

Answer 13

Variation within a population of a single species.

Question 14

What is natural selection?

Answer 14

Occurs when environmental factors determine which individuals within a species will survive.

Question 15

What is asexual reproduction?

Answer 15

A reproduction method involving only one parent, producing identical offspring.

Question 16

What are the types of asexual reproduction?

Answer 16

• Binary fission
• Budding
• Spore production
• Vegetative reproduction

Question 17

What is sexual reproduction?

Answer 17

Reproduction involving two parents, producing offspring with a mix of characteristics.

Question 18

What are gametes?

Answer 18

Specialized reproductive cells that have only one role in sexual reproduction.

Question 19

What is the role of pollen in reproduction?

Answer 19

Contains male gametes and is transferred to the stigma of the pistil during pollination.

Question 20

What is DNA?

Answer 20

The inherited material responsible for making an organism, found in a molecule in cell nuclei.

Question 21

Who unraveled the structure of DNA?

Answer 21

James Watson and Francis Crick.

Question 22

What is mitosis?

Answer 22

The process that produces two identical cells with the same number of chromosomes.

Question 23

What is meiosis?

Answer 23

A type of cell division that produces cells with only half of the DNA of a normal cell.

Question 24

What is a dominant trait?

Answer 24

A trait that is expressed when at least one dominant allele is present.

Question 25

What is a recessive trait?

Answer 25

A trait that appears only when two recessive alleles are inherited.

Question 26

What is extirpation?

Answer 26

The local extinction of a species from a particular area.

Question 27

What are natural causes of extinction?

Answer 27

* Catastrophic events * Lack of food * Disease

Question 28

What is overspecialization?

Answer 28

Adaptations that suit organisms to a very narrow set of environmental conditions.

Question 29

What is overspecialization in the context of extinction?

Answer 29

Overspecialization occurs when organisms have adaptations suited to a narrow set of environmental conditions.

Question 30

What is an example of a species that is overspecialized?

Answer 30

The giant panda, which relies exclusively on bamboo.

Question 31

What caused the decline and eventual extirpation of the plains bison?

Answer 31

Over-hunting.

Question 32

What is the primary cause of most extinctions and extirpations today?

Answer 32

Human activity.

Question 33

List some human activities that lead to habitat destruction.

Answer 33

* Urbanization * Construction * Agricultural development * Logging * Damming of rivers * Pollution * Pesticides * Herbicides * Fertilizers

Question 34

What happens when non-native species are introduced into an ecosystem?

Answer 34

They compete with native species for resources, leading to a decline in native populations.

Question 35

True or False: Extinction and extirpations have no impact on biological diversity.

Answer 35

False.

Question 36

What role did gray wolves play in their ecosystem before mass extermination in the U.S.?

Answer 36

They kept other animal populations from growing exponentially.

Question 37

Define artificial selection.

Answer 37

The process of selecting and breeding individuals with desirable traits to produce offspring with those traits.

Question 38

How does artificial selection differ from natural selection?

Answer 38

Artificial selection is controlled by humans.

Question 39

What are some methods used to speed up artificial selection?

Answer 39

* Cloning * Artificial insemination * In vitro fertilization * Genetic engineering

Question 40

What are potential risks of biotechnology in animals?

Answer 40

* Reduced genetic variation * Less resistance to disease * Birth defects and abnormalities

Question 41

What is the purpose of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy created in 1995?

Answer 41

To preserve biodiversity in Canada through cooperation among various levels of government and groups.

Question 42

What is ex-situ conservation?

Answer 42

Conservation of components of biodiversity outside of their natural habitat.

Question 43

Name two examples of ex-situ conservation.

Answer 43

* Zoos (captive breeding programs) * Sperm and egg banks

Question 44

What is the Species at Risk Act?

Answer 44

A resource use policy aimed at protecting species at risk in Canada.

Question 45

Fill in the blank: The _______ program is an example of a restoration program for ecosystems and species.

Answer 45

Ducks Unlimited CARE program

Question 46

What does the National Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk aim to achieve?

Answer 46

It aims to protect species at risk through coordinated efforts.

Question 47

What efforts are made to control the introduction and spread of exotic species?

Answer 47

* Public education on invasiveness * Penalties and fines * Loss of recreational areas

Question 48

What is the Human Genome Project?

Answer 48

A project aimed at mapping the human genome, contributing to genetic resource conservation.