Biology - Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics - SACE Stage 1 - Hope Christian College

This may not help you apply it in situational questions. Please review other sources like You tube and textbook for a more test-based questions. Also use the "YOU NEED TO KNOW" parts on a way to test your understanding.

Define genetics

To do w/ your genes on your DNA and the genetic information that is received form parents.

Define Species

A group of living organism of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.

Define ecosystem

Includes all the living organism in a given area interacting w/ each other, and their non-living environment.

In the biological classification pyramid, what are the two choices in the Domain category.

Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.

What is a disadvantage of the biological classification pyramid?

It only groups organism based on characteristics

A species can be described/named by two ways. What are they?

Common name and Scientific name.

What is an example of a common name of an species.

Cat, dog, lion, cow, etc….

What is an issue with Common Names? Give 3 reasons?

They can be confusing as there are many types of species like monkeys or flies.

Misleading names - Starfish and jelly fish are not fish

Different languages call animals different names.

The scientific name is based of Binomial Nomenclature. Define it.

Classification system in which each species is assigned a unique two-part scientific name (Genus, species)

Why is the BN more effect than the common naming system?

They describe a single specific species and is a universal agreed system for naming living things.

Is two organism had similar scientific names, what could this mean? E.g. same genus name.

They are very closely related. Panthera leo and Panthera tigris

Define phylogeny relationship.

Describes the evolutionary connections between organisms - Phylogeny means the evolutionary development and relationship is basically finding the similarity.

What are some evolutionary connections for phylogenic relationship?

evolutionary relationships is compared by anatomical structure, embryonic development, biochemistry, reproductive strategies, DNA and behavior.

What is the most accurate technique when finding phylogeny relationships?

Comparative genomics.

What is comparative genomics?

Compares the sequences of common molecules such as DNA and protein, to identify similarities and differences.

So if two organism share quite same molecular sequences, what can be made from this statement?

That they are likely to be more closely related.

Don't need to define - Dichotomous Key

(You need to know how to use one, both table and flowchart format)

Step by step approach to identify an organism using a series of paired descriptions

Again define species.

one or more populations whose members interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring.

Define Reproduction Isolation Mechanism

Reproductive isolation mechanism act to maintain distinct species, due to biological barriers that prevent interbreeding and fertile offspring.

What are the two main types of reproductive isolation?

Pre-zygotic barriers and Post-zygotic barriers.

Define pre-zygotic barriers.

Anything that prevents species mating and fertilization.

What are the main four types of isolation in Pre-zygotic.

Temporal Isolation

Behavioral Isolation

Mechanical Isolation

Gamete Isolation

What is Temporal Isolation?

Close related species are prevented form interbreeding as they mate at different times. (Mating season)

What is Behavioral Isolation?

Do not interbreed because of behavior difference in courtship rituals or other reproductive strategies. (Do you understand, if not, understand)

What is Mechanical Isolation?

There is a physical or biological structure that prevents mating. (an elephant and mouse/morphological differences)

What is Gamete Isolation?

Organism do come into contact but reproductive cells are not compatible.

Define post-zygotic barriers.

Anything that prevents the formation of fertile offspring.

What are the two main types of post-zygotic barriers

Hybrid inviability and Hybrid sterility.

What is Hybrid inviability?

The hybrid dies before birth or cannot survive to maturity.

What is Hybrid sterility?

Some hybrids produce superior offspring but the offspring are sterile

YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE MOVING ON:

What is the difference between common names and scientific names?

If two species have similar scientific names, what does this mean? Discuss the advantages of the internationally agreed system of nomenclature.

Define the reproductive isolation mechanism that may be pre or pro zygotic.

Recap. Define Ecosystem?

Includes all the living organism in a given area interacting w/ each other, and their non-living environment.

What is it meant by Ecosystem Components?

Ecosystem is made up of abiotic and biotic factors

What is an Abiotic Factor?

refer to the non-living components of the ecosystem. e.g. soil, light, water, nutrients

What is a Biotic Factor?

Refer to the living components of the ecosystem. e.g. animal, plants, fungi and others.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THESE BEFORE MOVING ON:

Compare the characteristic of at least two ecosystem (E.g. Desert and Forest).

Desert Ecosystem:

• Climate: Extremely low rainfall, high temperatures, and high evaporation rates.

Forest Ecosystem:

• Climate: Abundant rainfall, moderate temperatures, and high humidity.

What is zonation?

refers to the arrangement of living things into specific zones - determined by abiotic conditions.

How can abiotic factors influence species diversity?

temperature, water availability, and soil pH, play a crucial role in determining species diversity by influencing the conditions in which organisms can survive and thrive.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THESE BEFORE YOU CAN MOVE ON:

• Distinguish between biotic and abiotic components in a ecosystem.

• Patterns within a community include zonation and stratification.

Define stratification

Refers to the layering of a habitat. the vertical layering of habitat; the arrangement of vegetation in layers.

Define energy transfer

refers to the movement of energy from one place, object, or organism to another.

Energy flow in ecosystems.

Source of energy is mainly from sunlight which is converted into chemical energy by autotrophs. Then heterotrophs consume the autotroph for the chemical energy.

From the feeding relationship of energy flow, what can it be called?

Trophic levels

What is the order of trophic level?

Primary producer

Primary consumer

Secondary consumer

Tertiary consumer (Apex)

How much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?

10%

Why is that only 10% of energy is transferred in trophic levels?

• essential life processes like growth, movement, and reproduction

• Some of the energy is passed down as waste

What is the nutrient cycle?

The biotic and abiotic components of ecosystem interact with each other to capture, transform and transfer energy

What are some nutrient cycles that importantly present in an ecosystem.

Water, Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Why is the water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycle so important?

Every living organism is made up of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphates. Nitrogen and carbon are found in amino acids which make up proteins. Phosphates make up DNA and ATP.

Draw the water cycle ( 4-5)

Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Percolation and Transpiration

carbon cycle

What process do plants use to uptake carbon dioxide?

Photosynthesis

How do animals ingest carbon dioxide?

Through respiration

What are two ways carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere?

Respiration and organic material decay

The nitrogen cycle

phosphorus cycle

What is the main source of phosphorus in the environment?

Rocks

How does natural weathering affect phosphorus availability?

It makes phosphorus available to biological systems.

What happens to phosphorus after the decomposition of biological waste?

It can accumulate in large amounts in soil and sediments.

What are some human impact on the natural cycles

Fossil Fuels = Carbon and nitrogen increase

Deforestation, urbanization = Carbon dioxide increase

Fertilizers for Agriculture = Increased nitrogen and Phosphorus in soils and eutrophication

YOU NEED TO KNOW AND DO IT IN YOUR BOOK:

Represent the water cycle and biochemical cycles for elements such as nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus

What is an ecological niche?

the role an organism plays in a community

Roles are very specific to each organism and includes what interaction ?

Biotic and Abiotic interactions.

What are some of the Biotic and Abiotic interactions?

Habitat, feeding relationship, interactions with other species, interactions with abiotic environments.

Species in a habitat will compete with each other, why?

because they share the same resources, which are often limited, and their ecological niches overlap, leading to a struggle for survival and reproduction

What are the two types of competition?

interspecific and intraspecific

What is interspecific competition between with?

Between individuals of different species

What is intraspecific competition between with?

Between individuals of the same species.

What is niche overlap?

the situation in which co-occurring species share parts of their niche space with each other.

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time

If no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time, what does this infer in terms of better suites species?

Better suited species will outcompete the other species and occupy the niche

If the better species outcompetes other species, losing those species will either:

1. adapt to fill another niche. E.g. find another habitat/food source

2. Die out - driven to local extinction.

To reduce, competition, different niches allow for what?

resource partitioning - division of a shared resource

What are keystone species?

Keystone species are species that have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance.

Why do keystone species play a critical role in…

• maintaining the structure of an ecological community

• affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and

• helping to determine the types and no. of various other species in the community