AICE Marine TOPIC 4

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Species classification levels include Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

Dichotomous Keys

Tools used to identify organisms based on physical characteristics, consisting of paired statements.

Bony Fish

Fish belonging to the class Osteichthyes with a skeleton made of bone and a swim bladder.

Cartilaginous Fish

Fish belonging to the class Chondrichthyes with a skeleton made of cartilage and gill slits.

Binomial Nomenclature

A system for naming species using two names: Genus and species (e.g., Homo sapiens).

Echinoderms

Marine animals featuring pentaradial symmetry and tube feet, such as starfish and sea urchins.

Crustaceans

Marine organisms with exoskeletons, jointed appendages, and segmented bodies, like crabs and lobsters.

Genetic Diversity

Variation in genes within a species.

Species Diversity

Variety of species in an ecosystem.

Ecological Diversity

Variety of ecosystems in a region.

Ecosystem

Community of organisms interacting with abiotic and biotic factors.

Niche

The role of an organism in its environment.

Population

Group of the same species in a specific area.

Community

All populations living together in an ecosystem.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living elements of an ecosystem, such as temperature and pH.

Biotic Factors

Living elements in an ecosystem, including predation and symbiosis.

Mark-Release-Recapture Method

A technique to estimate population sizes by capturing, marking, releasing, and recapturing individuals.

Lincoln Index Formula

Formula used in the Mark-Release-Recapture Method: (number of individuals marked initially * number of individuals in second sample) / number of marked individuals in second sample.

Random Sampling

Sampling method that avoids bias to ensure representative data.

Systematic Sampling

Sampling method where samples are taken at regular intervals, such as along a transect.