the variety of life

• two types of plants -

  1. flowering
  2. non-flowering
• ferns and mosses are examples of non-flowering plants
• biodiversity - 


  the variety of different species and numbers of individuals within those species in an area
• why is biodiversity important to humans?

  1. food
  2. medicine
  3. building materials
  4. well being
• How does CITES help ensure biodiversity and its continuation?

  CITES is the international aim to stop the trading of endangered species to ensure their survival (e.g. preventing trading of ivory and endangered fur)
• what are sites of special scientific interest?

  sites protected by law to conserve the wildlife, they are important to areas of science and culture (e.g. blue lagoon)
• What are captive breeding programmes?

  the breeding of species at risk of extinction to keep the species alive
• What are national parks?

  area protected because of wildlife and natural heritage
• What are sperm banks?

  gene banks - preserving genetic material to be used in the future
• what are seed banks?

  Seed banks collect, store, and conserve seeds from various plant species to safeguard their genetic material for future generations
• what are local biodiversity action plans?

  a local action plan to conserve and enhance biodiversity, they are specific to each area
• How can biodiversity be maintained?

  1. breeding and release programmes
  2. active conservation of habitats and threatened species
  3. re-creation of habitats that have declined
  4. control of invasive species
  5. legislation to protect
  6. controlling pollution
• The 5 Kingdoms -

  1. Animals
  2. Plants
  3. Fungi
  4. Bacteria
  5. Single Celled Organisms
• Hierarchical taxa -

  1. kingdom
  2. phylum
  3. class
  4. order
  5. family
  6. genus
  7. species
• 2 types of animals -

  1. vertebrates
  2. invertebrates
• what to vertebrates have that invertebrates do not?


  a backbone
• 2 types of adaptation -

  1. morphological
  2. behavioural
• What is morphological adaption?

  the adaptation of physical characteristics (e.g. a peacocks tail)
• What is behavioural adaption?

  the adaptation of behavioural characteristics
• What happens to an animals ears if it lives in a hot climate?

  they have bigger ears
• Why do animals have bigger ears in hot climates?

  to lose heat quickly to surroundings - larger surface area to volume ratio
• smaller bodies increase heat loss
• animals in hot climates have less fat/fat storage to increase heat loss
• animals in colder climates have small ears so they have a smaller surface area, trapping heat
• animals in colder conditions have larger bodies and a smaller surface area to decrease heat loss
• animals in cold climates have fat all over to contain heat
• animals in cold climates have thick fur to offer insulation and trap heat
• fur can be used as camouflage
• What do animals compete for?

  1. food
  2. water
  3. mates
  4. territory (food)
• What do plants compete for?

  1. light
  2. water
  3. space
  4. minerals
• types of competition?

  1. interspecific competition
  2. intraspecific competition
• interspecific competition


  different species (e.g. lions and hyenas)
• intraspecific competition


  same species (e.g. bison competing over mating)
• invasive species -

  plants or animals that disrupt or dominate a habitat by aggressive colonisation
• endangered species -


  a population of organisms at risk of extinction
• species - 


  a population of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring
• native species -

  a species that has been continually present in a region for a (long) period of time
• risk


  the possibility a hazard will cause loss
• biological control -

  control of pests through a predator, pathogen or parasite
• alien species - 


  non-native, has been introduced to an environment