T4: Biodiversity & Natural Resources

• What is biodiversity?

  The variety of living organisms.
• How has biodiversity on Earth changed over time?

  It has become extensive but is now being threatened by human activity.
• What is species richness?

  The number of different species in a habitat.
• What does genetic diversity measure?

  The genetic variation found in a particular 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 in the population.
• How can biodiversity be compared between different habitats?

  Using the index of diversity (D).
• What does the index of diversity (D) represent?

  D = Diversity index.
• What is endemism?

  The state of a species being unique to a particular geographic location.
• What is an ecological niche?

  It is the role of a species within the community.
• What happens when species share the same niche?

  They compete with each other, and the better-adapted species will outcompete the other.
• What is the basis of natural selection?

  The idea that better-adapted species survive.
• What are anatomical adaptations?

  Physical adaptations, either external or internal.
• Give an example of an anatomical adaptation.

  The presence of long loops of Henlé in desert mammals.
• What are behavioral adaptations?

  Changes in behavior that improve the organism’s chance of survival.
• What are physiological adaptations?

  Processes that increase an organism’s chance of survival.
• What is the process of natural selection?

  Fitter individuals survive and pass on advantageous alleles to future generations.
• What is evolution?

  The process by which the frequency of alleles in a gene pool changes over time.
• What occurs during evolution via natural selection?

  A variety of phenotypes exist within a population due to mutation.
• What happens when an environmental change occurs?

  The selection pressure changes.
• What are advantageous alleles?

  Alleles that give individuals a selective advantage and allow them to survive and reproduce.
• What is the Hardy-Weinberg Equation used for?

  To estimate the frequency of alleles in a population and monitor changes in allele frequency.
• What does p represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  The frequency of the dominant allele (represented by A).
• What does q represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  The frequency of the recessive allele (represented by a).
• What does p^2 represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  The frequency of AA (homozygous dominant).
• What does 2pq represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  The frequency of Aa (heterozygous).
• What does q^2 represent in the Hardy-Weinberg Equation?

  The frequency of aa (homozygous recessive).
• What is the condition for a population in genetic equilibrium?


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

  (p + q)^2 = 1 hence p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1.
• What are the conditions of 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 will be formed due to accumulation of different genetic information.
• What is speciation?

  The formation of new species due to reproductive isolation.
• What is allopatric speciation?

  Speciation in which groups of organisms are geographically isolated.
• What is sympatric speciation?

  Speciation that occurs within the same area due to other means of isolation.
• What is classification?

  A means of organizing the variety of life based on relationships between organisms.
• What is the five-kingdom model for classification?

  Organisms can be grouped into animals, plants, fungi, protists, and monera.
• What is the binomial system of naming species?

  The first part of the name is the genus and the second part is the species.
• Give an example of a species name using the binomial system.

  Homo sapiens.
• What is molecular phylogeny?

  The analysis of molecular differences in different organisms to determine their evolutionary relationship.
• What is the Three-Domain model of classification?

  A model that sorts the five kingdoms into Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota.