BIO 1040 TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE
biophilia
the concept that humans subconsciously seek connection with life
genetic diversity
a measurement of the differences in DNA composition among individuals within a given
species
taxonomists
scientists who classify species, use an organism's physical appearance and genetic
makeup to determine its species
genetic bottleneck
event in which a significant portion of the population of a species is killed or prevented
from reproducing, leading to a decrease in genetic diversity
nature deficit disorder
alienation from the natural environment
biodiversity
sum total of all organisms in an area
-increases the stability and resilience of communities and ecosystems
-increases a natural system's ability to function and provide the "services" allowing us to
thrive
facts about species diversity
-easiest to measure
-it is a difficult task to find and identify many species
-we sample areas and calculate estimate and extrapolating
Terry Erwin
Famous for finding 163 beetle species unique to ONE tropical tree species
latitudinal gradient
species richness increases towards the equator
-areas nearer to the equator are more biologically productive and able to support larger
number of animals
niche
how a species fits in to an ecosystem; the spatial, environmental, energy, and
interactions with other organisms' relationships
- how an organism relates to and functions in its habitat
Seasonality
climate is more variable as compared to tropics
-favours fewer number of generalist species in colder climates
-seasonality of equatoral regions help ensure that single species wont dominate
ecosystems
tropical latitudes have
Greater amounts of solar energy, heat, and humidity promote high primary production
which can support more organisms
, -favours "specialist" species
-Result is a greater number of species overall
biodiversity distribution
2.3% of the planet's land surface contains 50% of the world's plant species and 42% of
all terrestrial vertebrate species
major causes of biodiversity/habitat loss
-habitat alteration
-pollution
-overharvesting
-invasive species
-climate change
greatest cause of biodiversity loss
habitat alteration
habitat alteration
-Farming
• Grazing
• Clearing forests
• Hydroelectric dams
• Urbanization and suburban sprawl
extinction rates are now
100 to 1,000 times the natural background extinction rates.
background extinction
species gradually and continuously go extinct, creating a turnover of species through
time
the red list
an updated list of species facing high risks of extinctions
• 22% of mammal species
• 13.1% of bird species
• 26.8% of amphibian species
interrelationships
relationships of members of different species with each other
intrarelationships
relationships among members of the same species
ecological community
A set of populations of different species living and interacting in the same local area
The nature of ecological communities is influenced by various environmental
factors:
-species diversity
-interactions with other species
-the habitat
habitat
place that includes all elements that an organism needs to thrive such as food, shelter,
safety, access to other organisms, reproductive space, climate
competition may be
detrimental to both species; may experience resource shortages; may fight and injure or
kill each other
LATEST UPDATE
biophilia
the concept that humans subconsciously seek connection with life
genetic diversity
a measurement of the differences in DNA composition among individuals within a given
species
taxonomists
scientists who classify species, use an organism's physical appearance and genetic
makeup to determine its species
genetic bottleneck
event in which a significant portion of the population of a species is killed or prevented
from reproducing, leading to a decrease in genetic diversity
nature deficit disorder
alienation from the natural environment
biodiversity
sum total of all organisms in an area
-increases the stability and resilience of communities and ecosystems
-increases a natural system's ability to function and provide the "services" allowing us to
thrive
facts about species diversity
-easiest to measure
-it is a difficult task to find and identify many species
-we sample areas and calculate estimate and extrapolating
Terry Erwin
Famous for finding 163 beetle species unique to ONE tropical tree species
latitudinal gradient
species richness increases towards the equator
-areas nearer to the equator are more biologically productive and able to support larger
number of animals
niche
how a species fits in to an ecosystem; the spatial, environmental, energy, and
interactions with other organisms' relationships
- how an organism relates to and functions in its habitat
Seasonality
climate is more variable as compared to tropics
-favours fewer number of generalist species in colder climates
-seasonality of equatoral regions help ensure that single species wont dominate
ecosystems
tropical latitudes have
Greater amounts of solar energy, heat, and humidity promote high primary production
which can support more organisms
, -favours "specialist" species
-Result is a greater number of species overall
biodiversity distribution
2.3% of the planet's land surface contains 50% of the world's plant species and 42% of
all terrestrial vertebrate species
major causes of biodiversity/habitat loss
-habitat alteration
-pollution
-overharvesting
-invasive species
-climate change
greatest cause of biodiversity loss
habitat alteration
habitat alteration
-Farming
• Grazing
• Clearing forests
• Hydroelectric dams
• Urbanization and suburban sprawl
extinction rates are now
100 to 1,000 times the natural background extinction rates.
background extinction
species gradually and continuously go extinct, creating a turnover of species through
time
the red list
an updated list of species facing high risks of extinctions
• 22% of mammal species
• 13.1% of bird species
• 26.8% of amphibian species
interrelationships
relationships of members of different species with each other
intrarelationships
relationships among members of the same species
ecological community
A set of populations of different species living and interacting in the same local area
The nature of ecological communities is influenced by various environmental
factors:
-species diversity
-interactions with other species
-the habitat
habitat
place that includes all elements that an organism needs to thrive such as food, shelter,
safety, access to other organisms, reproductive space, climate
competition may be
detrimental to both species; may experience resource shortages; may fight and injure or
kill each other
