BIO150 Final Exam - Gobetz (JMU) Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering topics from biology lecture notes, including biodiversity, evolution, cellular biology, thermoregulation, and population ecology.

biodiversity

The variability among organisms.

alpha diversity

Species richness in a designated area.

beta diversity

Species turnover (unique species) between areas.

gamma diversity

Total biodiversity for the entire region.

species richness

The number of species in an area.

species evenness

How close in number each species is, measured as a diversity index.

novel ecosystems

Human-made habitats known as the engineering niches of the Anthropocene that have no natural analogs.

germline mutations

Random mutations that occur naturally in populations and can be passed on to offspring.

genotype

The combination of alleles that make a phenotype.

phenotype

An organism's physical appearance or visible traits.

Hardy-Weinberg Law assumptions

The conditions under which a population is in equilibrium: no natural selection, no mate choice, no mutation, no gene flow, and no genetic drift.

Hardy-Weinberg allele frequency equation

$$p + q = 1$$

Hardy-Weinberg genotype frequency equation

$$p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1$$

genetic drift

Change in a population's allele frequencies resulting from a random event; it affects small populations more severely.

bottleneck effect

A mechanism of genetic drift where a reduction in population size due to a disturbance usually changes gene frequencies and often decreases genetic variation.

founder effect

A mechanism of genetic drift where a small number of individuals colonize new areas, resulting in a new population with different allele frequencies and decreased genetic variation.

gene flow

The process where separated populations find each other and new alleles are randomly brought into the gene pool, increasing genetic variation.

microevolution

Evolution occurring within populations.

macroevolution

Evolution occurring above the species level, most dramatic when species form or go extinct.

cryptic species

Two species that are morphologically similar but genetically different and cannot interbreed.

allopatric model of speciation

Speciation occurring when populations are in different homelands split up geographically via colonization, dispersal, or vicariance.

sympatric model of speciation

Speciation occurring in the same habitat geographic area, often through ecological isolation or polyploidy.

polyploidy

An error during meiosis or mitosis resulting in the doubling of chromosome number.

allopolyploidy

A type of polyploidy where parents of two different species mate and offspring have two complete sets of chromosomes.

autopolyploidy

A type of polyploidy where all the chromosomes involved are from the same species.

cyanobacteria

Blue-green pigmented prokaryotes that live in well-lit, $O_2$ rich surfaces and perform oxygenic photosynthesis.

purple sulfur bacteria

Purple pigmented prokaryotes that live in medium-lit, no $O_2$ middle layers and perform anoxygenic photosynthesis.

microbial mats

Layers of prokaryote habitats.

SA:V (Surface Area to Volume ratio)

A ratio relative to an organism's size and shape; an increase in size leads to a decrease in the ratio, influencing heat loss and gain.

dynamic cytoskeleton

In eukaryotes, an internal scaffolding of proteins that is remodeled constantly to move items, change cell shape, and move chromosomes.

simple multicellular synapomorphies

Characteristics including composition of similar cells, very few specialized cells or communication, and lack of 3D structure (sheets).

complex multicellular organisms

Organisms with specialized and interdependent cells and 3D structures where some cells are not directly exposed to the environment.

heat shock proteins

Proteins that elevate during heat stress to help unfold or refold heat-stressed proteins.

ectotherms

Organisms that depend on environmental temperature and must move to microhabitats to control their temperature.

endotherms

Organisms that regulate internal temperature by generating heat depending on energy intake (food).

heterotherm

An organism that exhibits both endothermic and exothermic traits.

hibernation

A state in small mammals where body temperature drops to near freezing; often associated with delayed implantation.

torpor

The large mammal version of hibernation involving hypothermia and hypometabolism.

bulk flow

The movement of a large amount of fluids in one direction.

bryophytes

Non-vascular plants, such as moss.

xylem tissue

Vascular tissue that is straw-like and full of holes, aiding in water transport.

stomata

Small openings on terrestrial plant leaves that open and close to regulate water evaporation and photosynthesis.

transpiration

The pull from soil created by stomata opening, allowing water to move for photosynthesis and cooling.

cuticle

A protective layer around a leaf that prevents water loss and acts as a barrier to pathogens.

drip tip

A plant adaptation that allows excess water to roll off; absent in low-water environments.

phototroph

An organism that uses light as its energy source.

chemotroph

An organism that uses organic Carbon as its energy source.

autotroph

An organism that uses elements or minerals to make carbon.

heterotroph

An organism that uses other organisms for its carbon.

CHNOPS

The elements found in macromolecules: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur.

root hairs

Structures that increase the surface area of roots to absorb more water and nutrients.

mycorrhizae

Fungi that form a mutualistic relationship with angiosperms and gymnosperms to absorb additional nutrients.

root nodules

Structures on some plant roots containing N-fixing bacteria that break $N_2$ bonds.

flehmen

A behavioral adaptation for mating involving curling up the lip, connected with reproduction and unique pheromone scent markers.

budding

A form of asexual reproduction in animals where a tiny copy of the parent forms and breaks off.

fission

A form of asexual reproduction where an organism divides down the middle to form two individuals.

fragmentation

A form of asexual reproduction where a piece of an organism breaks off and grows into new tissues.

stolon

A long shoot off a plant where an offspring is produced at the end (e.g., strawberries).

hermaphrodites

Organisms that can reproduce both sexually and asexually.

dioecious

A term for species where one gamete is produced by each sex (e.g., humans).

population density (D)

The population size per area, calculated as $N/A$.

r species

Small-sized prey species that produce many offspring and have populations that depend on resources rather than density.

K species

Medium to large-sized species with long lifespans that mature later, reproduce slowly, and have populations that depend on density.

fecundity

The number of offspring a female has, which declines as population density increases.

carrying capacity

The maximum number of individuals that a habitat can support.

niche

The ecological role of a species in a community, defined by specific habitat requirements like food, space, and temperature.

ecomorphs

Organisms that are products of convergent evolution, occupying the same niche in different environments.

fundamental niche

The potential habitat and resources a species could use under the assumption of no competition.

realized niche

The actual habitat and resources a species lives in and uses; the most common and realistic niche.

complete niche overlap

A situation where two species share the same niche, usually leading to the extinction of one species, typically the native one.