Wildlife: 1_Alberta Wildlife Biology

Question 1

What is Taxonomy?

Answer 1

The science of classifying living organisms into hierarchical groups based on shared characteristics.

Question 2

What is Binomial Nomenclature?

Answer 2

A two-word system for naming species, consisting of the genus name and the species name.

Question 3

What are Taxa?

Answer 3

Hierarchical groupings used in biological classification (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species).

Question 4

What is a Kingdom in taxonomy?

Answer 4

A major taxonomic rank below Domain, grouping organisms based on fundamental characteristics (e.g., Animal, Plant, Fungi).

Question 5

What is a Phylum?

Answer 5

A major taxonomic rank below Kingdom, grouping organisms with shared structural characteristics.

Question 6

What is a Class in taxonomy?

Answer 6

A taxonomic rank below Phylum, grouping organisms with more specific shared characteristics.

Question 7

What is an Order in taxonomy?

Answer 7

A taxonomic rank below Class, grouping organisms with similar features.

Question 8

What is a Family in taxonomy?

Answer 8

A taxonomic rank below Order, grouping genera that are closely related.

Question 9

What is a Genus?

Answer 9

A taxonomic rank below Family, grouping closely related species.

Question 10

What is a Species?

Answer 10

The basic unit of classification, consisting of a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Question 11

What is a Vertebrate?

Answer 11

An animal that possesses a backbone or vertebral column (belonging to the phylum Chordata).

Question 12

What is an Invertebrate?

Answer 12

An animal that lacks a backbone (e.g., Arthropoda, Mollusca).

Question 13

What does Ectothermic mean?

Answer 13

Organisms that rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature (cold-blooded).

Question 14

What does Endothermic mean?

Answer 14

Organisms that can generate their own heat to maintain a stable internal body temperature (warm-blooded).

Question 15

What does Autotrophic mean?

Answer 15

Organisms that produce their own food, typically through photosynthesis (e.g., plants).

Question 16

What does Heterotrophic mean?

Answer 16

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms (e.g., animals, fungi).

Question 17

What is Adaptation?

Answer 17

A trait or characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Question 18

What is a Behavioral Adaptation?

Answer 18

Learned or inherited behaviors that increase an organism’s survival chances (e.g., mimicry, hibernation).

Question 19

What is a Physical Adaptation?

Answer 19

Structural or anatomical features of an organism that help it survive (e.g., camouflage, specialized teeth).

Question 20

What is a Generalist Species?

Answer 20

A species that can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and utilize a diverse range of resources.

Question 21

What is a Specialist Species?

Answer 21

A species that requires specific environmental conditions and has a limited diet or habitat.

Question 22

What is Dentition?

Answer 22

The arrangement or condition of the teeth in a particular species.

Question 23

What is a Sagittal Crest?

Answer 23

A ridge of bone along the midline of the skull, serving as an attachment point for jaw muscles.

Question 24

What is Diastema?

Answer 24

A gap or space between teeth.

Question 25

What are Horns?

Answer 25

Permanent, unbranched structures made of bone and keratin, found on the heads of some mammals (e.g., Bovidae).

Question 26

What are Antlers?

Answer 26

Bony, branched structures on the heads of deer family members (Cervidae) that are shed and regrown annually.

Question 27

What is a Pedicel?

Answer 27

The bony support structure on the frontal bone from which antlers grow.

Question 28

What is Velvet in relation to antlers?

Answer 28

Soft, vascularized skin covering growing antlers.

Question 29

What is Ossification?

Answer 29

The process of bone formation.

Question 30

What is Habitat Succession?

Answer 30

The natural process of change in the species composition of a community over time after a disturbance.

Question 31

What is the Climax Stage?

Answer 31

The stable, mature stage of ecological succession.

Question 32

What is Mosaic (or Interspersion)?

Answer 32

A pattern of different habitat types or successional stages within an area.

Question 33

What is Edge in ecology?

Answer 33

The boundary area where two different habitat types or successional stages meet.

Question 34

What is a Keystone Species?

Answer 34

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Question 35

What does Polygynous mean?

Answer 35

A mating system in which one male mates with multiple females.

Question 36

What is ATK (Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge)?

Answer 36

The knowledge and understanding held by Indigenous peoples about their environment and its resources.

Question 37

What is COSEWIC?

Answer 37

An independent advisory body that assesses the conservation status of Canadian wildlife species.

Question 38

What is SARA (Species at Risk Act)?

Answer 38

Federal legislation in Canada aimed at preventing Canadian indigenous species, subspecies, and distinct populations from becoming extirpated or extinct.