Genetic Biodiversity

Explain the biological classification system used to organize living organisms. Include the main levels from broadest to most specific.

The biological classification system, known as taxonomy, organizes living organisms into hierarchical categories that include, from broadest to most specific: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

What is biodiversity?

refers to the variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, region, or on the entire planet. It includes the diversity of species, genetic diversity within species, and the variety of ecosystems.

Describe the three levels of biodiversity and explain why it is important.

Biodiversity is typically categorized into three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Each level plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and resilience, providing essential services like food, clean air, and water.

What does genetic diversity refer to?

differences within a species

What does species diversity refer to?

number of different species

What does ecosystem diversity refer to?

variety of habitats.

Choose an organism and explain how it would be classified from Kingdom to Species.

The classification of an organism involves its categorization in a hierarchy: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. For example, the domestic cat is classified as follows: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Carnivora, Family Felidae, Genus Felis, Species Felis catus.

What does morphological species refer to?

Based on looks/physical traits and appearance

What does biological species refer to?

Can reproduce + make a fertile offspring

What does a phylogenetic species refer to?

Share common ancestors

Describe at least two different scientific definitions of a species and explain how they differ.

Biological species and morphological species differ because some organisms may look similar but cannot reproduce together, or may reproduce but look different.

Why is genetic variation important in a population?

it allows populations to adapt to environmental changes.

What could happen if a population has low genetic variation?

If a population has low genetic variation, it may not survive changes like disease, climate shifts, or habitat loss. Low variation can increase the risk of extinction because all individuals respond similarly to threats

Explain the difference between morphological and biological species concepts. Give an example of how scientists might use each

The morphological species concept groups organisms based on physical appearance, while the biological species concept groups them based on the ability to reproduce and produce fertile offspring. Morphology is useful when reproduction cannot be observed, while the biological concept is more accurate for determining true species relationships.

What are the four main processes of evolution?

• Mutation

• Natural selection

• Genetic drift

• Gene flow

Explain how gene flow affects populations.

the movement of genes between populations through migration and reproduction.

What happens when gene flow is high vs. when it is low?

• High = makes populations more genetically similar

• Low = allows populations to become more different over time

• Barrier = reduces through mountains and rivers, etc.

What is genetic drift?

a random change in allele frequencies in a population.

Why is it considered a random process? Give an example

• it is based on chance events rather than survival advantage.

• For example, if a storm randomly kills many individuals, the remaining population’s genes may change by chance.

What does mutation do?

Creates new genetic variations

What does the natural selection do?

increases tratis that improves survival

What does genetic drift do?

Causes random changes in allele frequencies.

What does gene flow do?

moves genes between populations and increases similarity between groups.

What does it mean for an animal to be semi-aquatic?

live both in water and on land.

Give examples and explain how their habitat supports survival.

Examples include nutria, beavers, and otters. They rely on water for food or protection but also use land for nesting or resting. Their adaptations allow them to survive in both environments.

Explain how barriers like mountains or rivers can affect gene flow and evolution of species.

• Barriers such as mountains, rivers, or oceans can block movement between populations.

• When gene flow is reduced, populations become more genetically different over time, which can eventually lead to the formation of new species

What is adaptation?

a trait that improves an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Explain how natural selection leads to adaptations over time.

individuals with helpful traits survive longer and pass those traits to their offspring, making them more common over time.

A population of animals becomes separated by a river. Over time, the two groups become different species. Explain how this happens using evolution concepts.

• When a population is separated by a river, gene flow between the two groups stops.

• Over time, mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift cause the two groups to become genetically different.

• Eventually, they may become so different that they can no longer interbreed, forming two separate species.

Why do scientists use both physical traits and genetics to classify organisms?

some species may look similar but are genetically different, while others may look different but are genetically related, which helps understands the relationships between organisms.

Describe how evolution changes populations over time using all four evolutionary processes.

• change in allele frequencies in a population over time

• It occurs through mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.

• These processes change how common traits are in a population, leading to adaptation and sometimes the formation of new species.

What trick is it to remember the levels of classification?

Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup

What are the 3 domains of life?

• Bacteria

• Archaea

• Eukarya

What increases variations?

mutation

What is random?

drift

What happens when there is low variations?

the species cannot adapt

How does gene flow, flow through?

• It moves genes between populations

• Makes populations MORE similar

• Barriers (mountains, oceans) reduces gene flow

What can reduce survival and fertility?

Inbreeding

What is the biggest group in living things?

Domain

What are the kingdoms?

• Fungi

• Animalia

• Plantae

• Protista

• Bacteria/Archaea

What are the 3 levels of biodiversity?

• Genetic

• Species

• Ecosystem

What are the 3 definitions of species?

• Morphological

• Biological

• Phylogenetic