Biodiversity and Its Evolution: Scientific Education Revision

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering genetics reminders, biodiversity metrics, sampling methods, and population size estimation via capture-mark-recapture.

Homologous chromosomes

The two chromosomes of the same pair that carry the same genes at the same locations, though not necessarily the same alleles.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

The double-helix molecule that forms chromosomes, composed of a specific sequence of nucleotides (A, T, C, and G).

Gene

A specific portion of DNA (nucleotide sequence) that determines a biological trait.

Allele

A specific version or variant of a gene.

Mutation

A modification of one or several nucleotides in the DNA sequence, which can result in a new allele and potentially a new phenotype.

Genotype

The set of all alleles possessed by an individual for its genes.

Phenotype

The complete set of observable traits and characteristics of an individual.

Homozygous

Carrying two identical alleles for a given gene.

Heterozygous

Carrying two different alleles for a given gene.

Biodiversity

The diversity of the living world assessed across three levels: genetic diversity (alleles), specific diversity (species), and ecosystemic diversity (environments).

Ecosystem

A living environment (biotope) combined with the species residing within it (biocenosis) and all their ecological interactions.

Species

A group of individuals capable of interbreeding with one another and producing fertile offspring.

Species richness

The total number of different species present in a given environment or ecosystem.

Abundance

The number of individuals belonging to a specific species, population, or group.

Environmental DNA

DNA fragments isolated from environmental samples and compared to reference databases to detect difficult-to-observe species or identify new ones.

Capture-Mark-Recapture (CMR) method

A population size estimation technique calculated as $N = \frac{M \times n}{m}$, applicable when sampling is random and the population is closed.

Closed population

A population with a fixed size during a study period, having no births, deaths, immigration, or emigration.

Sampling fluctuation

The statistical phenomenon where an observed frequency or proportion naturally varies from one sample to another.

Confidence interval

A range of values framing an estimated parameter with a specified confidence level, calculated at $95\%$ as $\left[f - \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}} ; f + \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\right]$.

Azuré du Serpolet

A butterfly species used in capture-mark-recapture studies, sampled by holding the thorax and marking with an odorless, permanent marker to avoid altering behavior or survival.