Describing Biodiversity: Species, Genetic, and Ecosystem Diversity

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, definitions, and concepts of genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

Biodiversity

The variety of life—from the smallest microbes to the largest plants and animals—including the genetic material that gives them their characteristics and the ecosystems they survive in.

Species diversity

A group of organisms with similar characteristics that can mate and produce fertile offspring.

Species Diversity

The variety (how many species) and abundance (how many of each) of different species living in an ecosystem or community.

Genetic Diversity

The variation of genes among individuals of the same species.

Ecosystem

A community of organisms in a geographical area and their interactions with each other and the environment.

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes between different ecosystems.

Habitat

The place an organism lives, such as water, land, air, soil, or in/on another organism.

Community

All the organisms living together in an area.

Adaptations

Structures and behaviours that help an organism survive in its habitat.

Structural Adaptation

A physical body feature (such as a shell, flippers, or mouthparts) that helps an organism survive in its habitat.

Behavioural Adaptation

An action or behaviour an organism performs (such as migrating, hiding, or basking) that helps it survive in its habitat.

Mutation

A change to the structure of a gene that may alter the attribute that gene expresses, serving as a source of genetic variation.

Sexual Reproduction

A process where genes from two parents are exchanged and combined, producing new combinations of genes in offspring.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living environmental factors, such as temperature, rainfall, sunlight, and soil type.

Biotic Factors

Living factors in an ecosystem, referring to the types of organisms found within a region.