Gen Bio NWMSU Exam 4 Study guide

Species Richness

Approximately 2 million described species currently.

Biodiversity

Variety of life forms in ecosystems.

Taxonomy

Science of naming and classifying organisms.

Binomial Nomenclature

Two-part naming system for species.

Classification Hierarchy

Eight categories: Domain to Species.

Domains

Three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya.

Kingdoms of Eukarya

Includes Protista, Fungi, Animalia, Plantae.

Biogeography

Study of species distribution patterns.

Alfred Wallace

Father of biogeography, studied species distribution.

Speciation

Formation of new species over time.

Gradualism

Slow, uniform changes in species evolution.

Punctuated Equilibrium

Rapid changes followed by stability in evolution.

Anagenesis

Gradual evolution within a lineage.

Cladogenesis

Evolution through branching into new lineages.

Hominids

Family including modern humans and ancestors.

Common Ancestor

Shared ancestor of all primates, ~58 million years ago.

Australopithecus

Early bipedal hominids, including Lucy.

Homo habilis

First known tool users, ~2.4 million years ago.

Homo erectus

First hominids to leave Africa, advanced tools.

Homo neanderthalensis

Large-brained hominids adapted to cold environments.

Homo sapiens

Modern humans, emerged ~160,000 years ago.

Neanderthal Interbreeding

Interbreeding with modern humans, DNA presence.

Ecology

Study of interactions between organisms and environment.

Population Ecology

Study of species groups in specific areas.

Community Ecology

Interactions among different species in a community.

Ecosystem Ecology

Energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems.

Biodiversity Benefits

Supports food crops, medicines, and economies.

Keystone Species

Species critical for ecosystem function, like bees.

Ecological Succession

Gradual change in species composition over time.

Pioneer Species

First species to colonize barren areas.