Inheritance,variation and evolution

• What did carl linnaeus create?

  the binomial naming system
• list the 8 levels of classification:

  domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
• what is included in a scientific name?

  genus and species
• what did carl woese create?

  3 domain system
• outline 3 domains


  eukaryote (cells with nucleus) , archaea (primitive bacteria), bacteria (true bacteria)
• What is a prokaryote?

  cell with no nucleus (archaea and bacteria)
• what is an evolutionary tree?

  diagram representing evolutionary relationships
• what is an ecosystem?

  all the biotic and abiotic factors in an area
• what is a community?

  all the different species in an area
• what is a habitat?


  place where organism lives
• what four things do animals compete for?

  food, water, mates, territory
• what 4 things do plants compete for?

  light, water, mineral ions, space
• what are biotic factors?


  living factors that can affect populations
• what are abiotic factors?

  non-living factors that can affect populations
• 3 examples of abiotic factors which affect organisms:

  temperature, water availability, light intensity
• 3 examples of biotic factors which affect organisms:

  predators, prey, pathogens
• what are the three types of adaptations?

  structural, behavioural ,functional
• how is water lost from plant leaves?

  it evaporates and diffuses out through stomata
• state 3 adaptations of animals for hot climates:

  large surface area:volume ratio, thin fur, thin layer of fat.
• state 3 adaptations of animals for cold climates

  small surface area:volume ratio, thick fur, thick layer of blubber.
• how are plants generally adapted to dry conditions?

  small leaves (reduce water loss), fewer stomata (reduce water loss), deep roots (absorb more water).
• what is the name given to organisms that live in harsh conditions?

  extremophile
• name 3 ways that wind pollinated flowers are adapted

  light pollen, large amounts of pollen products, anthers dangle in the wind
• name 3 ways that insect pollinated flowers are adapted

  sticky pollen, bright coloured petals, sweet smell/nectar produced
• state 2 predator adaptations and how they help

  sharp teeth/claws- kill prey, eyes o front of head- track speed/distance of prey
• state 2 prey adaptations and how they help


  eyes on side of head: wider field of view to see predators, poisonous: deter predators
• why might the number of predators increase?

  increase as more prey, so they have more food so more survive
• why might the number of predators decrease?

  fewer prey so less food for predators so they starve
• why might the number of prey increase?


  fewer predators, fewer prey is killed and eaten.
• define interdependence


  how populations are linked within an ecosystem
• give 2 ways that quadrats can be used to sample organisms


  along a transect, placed randomly
• why must quadrats be placed randomly?

  to reduce bias
• how can a quadrat be placed randomly?

  make a grid, generate random coordinates
• how can you use quadrats to estimate population size in an area?

  make grid and generate ten random coordinates, place quadrats on coordinates and count organisms in quadrat, calculate mean. population= mean x area
• what is the calculation to estimate the population in a given area?

  population= mean x area
• how can you use a quadrat to investigate the effect of a factor on a species?

  lay a tape measure across an area, place a quadrat at regular intervals up to a given distance. count organisms in the quadrat and measure factor
• how do you improve transect investigations?

  repeat transects in other areas (in case areas have been missed)
• how do you calculate a mean?

  add all the values together and divide by the total amount of values.
• how do you work out the median value?

  put the values in ascending order, find the middle value.
• how do you work out the mode value?


  the most occurring (common) value.