Biodiversity and Evolution

Flashcards covering key concepts related to biodiversity and evolution, including definitions and differences of key terms.

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the variety of life on Earth.

What are the four components of biodiversity?

The four components of biodiversity are functional diversity, ecological diversity, genetic diversity, and species diversity.

What is an ecological niche?

An ecological niche is the role of each species within the ecosystem it inhabits.

What is the difference between generalist and specialist species?

Generalist species have a broad niche, while specialist species occupy a narrow niche.

What are native species?

Native species are those that normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem.

What are nonnative species?

Nonnative species are those that migrate into or are deliberately or accidentally introduced into a new ecosystem.

What are invasive species?

Invasive species compete with and reduce an ecosystem's native species.

What is an indicator species?

Indicator species provide early warnings of environmental change in a community or ecosystem.

What is a keystone species?

A keystone species has a large effect on the types and abundance of other species in an ecosystem.

Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

The theory was proposed by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

What is speciation?

Speciation is the process by which one species evolves into two or more different species.

What are the two phases of speciation?

The two phases of speciation are geographic isolation and reproductive isolation.

What is artificial selection?

Artificial selection is the process of changing the genetic characteristics of populations with similar genes.

What is genetic engineering?

Genetic engineering, or gene splicing, involves changing genes by adding, deleting, or modifying segments of DNA.

What is biological extinction?

Biological extinction occurs when an entire species ceases to exist.

Why are endemic species vulnerable to extinction?

Endemic species, found in only one area, are especially vulnerable to extinction due to their limited distribution.