Biodiversity & nat. resources

• What is biodiversity?

  The variety of living organisms
• How is biodiversity currently being threatened?

  By human activity such as deforestation
• What are the two main measures of biodiversity?

  • Species richness: number of different species
  • Genetic diversity: genetic variation in a species
• What does species richness refer to?

  The number of different species in a habitat
• What is genetic diversity?

  A measure of genetic variation in a species
• How is biodiversity within a species measured?

  By calculating the heterozygosity index
• What is the formula for the heterozygosity index (H)?

  H = number of heterozygotes / number of individuals
• What is the index of diversity (D) used for?

  To measure and compare biodiversity between habitats
• What does endemism refer to?

  A species unique to a specific location
• What is an ecological niche?

  The role of a species within its community
• How do species compete within the same niche?

  Better-adapted species outcompete others
• What is the basis of natural selection?

  Better adapted species survive and reproduce
• What are anatomical adaptations?

  Physical adaptations of organisms
• What are behavioral adaptations?

  Changes in behavior that improve survival
• What is a physiological adaptation?

  Processes that increase survival chances
• What is the process of natural selection?

  Fitter individuals survive and pass on alleles
• What is evolution in terms of allele frequency?

  Change in allele frequency over time
• What are the steps of evolution via natural selection?

  1. Variety of phenotypes exists due to mutation
  2. Environmental change alters selection pressure
  3. Some individuals have advantageous alleles
  4. Advantageous alleles are passed to offspring
  5. Allele frequency in population changes over time
• What is the Hardy-Weinberg Equation used for?

  Estimating allele frequency in a population
• What does p represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  The frequency of the dominant allele
• What does q represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  The frequency of the recessive allele
• What does p^2 represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  Frequency of homozygous dominant individuals
• What does 2pq represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  Frequency of heterozygous individuals
• What does q^2 represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  Frequency of homozygous recessive individuals
• What is the equation for a population in genetic equilibrium?

  p + q = 1.0
• What is the expanded Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  (p + q)^2 = 1 hence p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1
• What are the conditions for the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  • No mutations
  • Random mating
  • Large population
  • Isolated population
  • No selection pressure
• What happens when two populations become reproductively isolated?

  New species form due to genetic differences
• What is speciation?

  The formation of new species
• What is allopatric speciation?

  Speciation due to geographical isolation
• What is sympatric speciation?

  Speciation within the same area by other means
• What is classification in biology?

  • Organizing life based on relationships
  • Using differences and similarities in phenotypes and genotypes
  • Five-kingdom model: animals, plants, fungi, protists, monera
• What is the binomial system of naming species?

  Genus name followed by species name
• What is molecular phylogeny?

  Analysis of molecular differences for evolutionary relationships
• What did molecular phylogeny lead to?

  New taxonomic groupings in classification
• What are the three domains in the Three-Domain model?

  Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryota
• How does the scientific community evaluate data?

  • Findings published in scientific journals
  • Presented at scientific conferences
  • Evidence studied through peer review
• What type of cells are plant cells?

  Eukaryotic cells with a nucleus
• What structures are unique to plant cells?

  • Cell wall made of cellulose
  • Plasmodesmata for substance transport
  • Chloroplasts for photosynthesis
  • Amyloplasts for starch storage
  • Vacuole for strength and support
• What is the function of the cell wall in plant cells?

  Provides structure and support