Biodiversity

Flashcards about Biodiversity and Classification of Living Things

Biodiversity

A large variety of living organisms on our planet as well as the interaction between them.

Importance of Biodiversity

Variety allows for increased survival because it allows organisms to adapt in a changing environment. It allows for evolution.

Species diversity

Variety of species.

Genetic diversity

Genetic variety within a species.

Ecosystem diversity

Variety of ecosystems that occur within an area.

Endemic species

Species that are only found in a specific area.

Key species

Species that influence the health and well-being of other species in the ecosystem.

Indigenous species

Species occur naturally in South Africa and other parts of the world.

Exotic/Alien species

Species that do not belong in an area and are brought in.

Ecosystem Stability

The more biodiverse an ecosystem is, the more it can withstand environmental change.

Maintaining biodiversity

Reducing waste and increasing recycling, breeding programmes for endangered species, protection and regeneration of rare habitats and species, replanting trees, reducing deforestation, and reducing carbon emissions.

Classification systems

Developed to organize and study the diversity of life. Organisms are divided according to similarities and shared characteristics.

Taxonomy

Science of classifying organisms and assigning each organism a universally accepted name.

Binomial Nomenclature

Each species is assigned a 2-part scientific name.

Monera

Unicellular organisms, prokaryotic, have cell walls, some are autotrophic, most are heterotrophic, asexual reproduction by binary fission.

Protista

Some are unicellular whilst others are multicellular, eukaryotic, motile, algae are autotrophic, the rest are heterotrophic, most reproduce asexually by binary fission, some reproduce sexually.

Fungi

Yeasts are unicellular whilst mushrooms and moulds are multicellular, eukaryotic, cell walls made up of cellulose and chitin, heterotrophic.

Plantae

Multicellular, eukaryotic, cellulose cell walls, autotrophic, asexual reproduction by spores, sexual reproduction by male and female gametes.

Animalia

Multicellular, eukaryotic, no cell walls, heterotrophic, sometimes asexual reproduction, mostly sexual reproduction by male and female gametes.

Prokaryote

Organisms with cells that do not have true nuclei, meaning that the DNA is not enclosed by a membrane.

Eukaryote

Organisms with cells with true nuclei, meaning that the DNA is enclosed by a membrane.

Asexual Reproduction

Reproduction that occurs in the absence of gametes and therefore only involves the parent.

Sexual Reproduction

Reproduction that involves both male and female sex cells (gametes), involving two parents.