apes unit 2 the living world: biodiversity

What are the three levels of biodiversity?

Ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.

What is ecosystem diversity?

The number of different habitats in an area, such as forests or wetlands.

What is species diversity?

The number of species and the balance of their populations in an ecosystem.

What is genetic diversity?

Variation in genes among individuals within a population.

Why is high biodiversity important?

It increases ecosystem and population health and resilience to disturbances.

What is species richness?

The total number of different species in an ecosystem.

What is species evenness?

The balance in population sizes across species.

Why are both richness and evenness important?

They contribute to ecosystem resilience and stability.

What is the bottleneck effect?

A drastic reduction in population size due to an event, reducing genetic diversity.

What is inbreeding depression?

Harmful effects when closely related individuals breed, expressing harmful recessive traits.

How does low genetic diversity affect a population?

It reduces adaptability and increases vulnerability to extinction.

What is ecosystem resilience?

The ability of an ecosystem to recover after a disturbance.

How does high biodiversity affect ecosystem resilience?

It strengthens resilience by stabilizing food webs and allowing adaptation.

What are ecosystem services?

Benefits provided by ecosystems to humans and nature, such as food, water, and air purification.

What are provisioning services?

Products obtained from ecosystems, like food and timber.

What are regulating services?

Natural processes regulated by ecosystems, like climate regulation and water filtration.

What are supporting services?

Ecosystem processes like soil formation and nutrient cycling that support life.

What are cultural services?

Non-material benefits like recreation, tourism, and spiritual value.

What is island biogeography?

The study of species distribution on islands and isolated habitats.

What are true islands?

Land surrounded by water, like Hawaii.

What are habitat islands?

Isolated habitats surrounded by human development, like Central Park.

How does island size affect species richness?

Larger islands have more species due to more habitats and resources.

How does distance from the mainland affect colonization?

Closer islands are easier to reach and colonize, supporting more species.

What is adaptive radiation?

When one species rapidly evolves into many to fill available niches.

What drives unique evolution on islands?

Isolation and limited resources.

What is ecological tolerance?

The range of environmental conditions a species can survive before death or harm.

What are tolerance zones?

Zones that show how well an organism survives in various conditions (optimal, stress, intolerance).

What happens in the optimal range?

Organisms thrive and reproduce.

What happens in the physiological stress zone?

Organisms survive but with reduced health or reproduction.

What happens in the intolerance zone?

Conditions are too extreme; organisms die.

Why does genetic diversity increase resilience?

It allows the population to adapt to changing conditions.

What are natural disruptions?

Events that alter ecosystems, such as hurricanes, droughts, and earthquakes.

What are periodic disruptions?

Regularly occurring events like dry and wet seasons.

What are episodic disruptions?

Occasional events like hurricanes or wildfires.

What are random disruptions?

Unpredictable events like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

How can climate change affect ecosystems over time?

It can alter sea levels, temperature, and species migration patterns.

How do species respond to temperature shifts?

By migrating to more suitable environments.

What are the sources of genetic diversity?

Mutations and genetic recombination (crossing over during meiosis).

What is an adaptation?

A trait that improves an organism's survival and reproduction.

What is natural selection?

The process where organisms with beneficial traits survive and reproduce more.

What is a selective pressure?

An environmental factor that influences which traits are favorable.

How does environment affect evolution?

Stable environments favor existing traits; changing environments favor new adaptations.

How does generation time affect evolution?

Shorter generation times lead to faster evolution.

What is an example of rapid evolution?

Bacteria and viruses evolving resistance in days.

What is ecological succession?

The gradual change in plant communities and ecosystem structure over time.

What is primary succession?

Succession starting from bare rock without soil, like after a volcanic eruption.

What is secondary succession?

Succession starting with existing soil, like after a fire or flood.

What are pioneer species?

First species to colonize an area, such as mosses and grasses.

What happens in mid-succession?

Larger plants like shrubs and pines grow as soil improves.

What is a climax community?

A stable, mature ecosystem with large, shade-tolerant trees.

How do primary and secondary succession differ?

Primary begins with no soil; secondary begins with soil already present.