Biodiversity and Conservation

A series of flashcards focusing on key concepts from biodiversity and conservation, designed to assist students in exam preparation.

Biodiversity

The variety of life at all levels of biological organization, from genes to species.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to human well-being.

Genetic Diversity

The range of different genes within a species, enabling adaptation.

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of different ecosystems within a region or on Earth.

Provisioning Services

Ecosystem contributions that yield tangible products like food and water.

Regulating Services

Ecosystem services that regulate environmental conditions.

Supporting Services

Fundamental processes that support ecosystem functions.

Cultural Services

Non-material benefits provided by ecosystems, like recreational experiences.

Phylogenetic Trees

Visual representations illustrating the evolutionary relationships among species.

Monophyletic Groups

Groups of organisms that include a common ancestor and all of its descendants.

Taxa

Specific groups of organisms being studied, located at the tips of phylogenetic tree branches.

Branches

Represent evolutionary lineages in phylogenetic trees.

Root

The most recent common ancestor of all taxa in a phylogenetic tree.

Nested Hierarchies

Organizational structure in which monophyletic groups occur within larger groups.

Parsimony

Principle stating that the best phylogenetic tree requires the fewest evolutionary changes.

Phylogenetic Traits

Any characteristic used to compare organisms and infer evolutionary relationships.

Character Traits

Observable characteristics of an organism useful in phylogenetics.

Derived Traits

Modified forms of ancestral traits found in descendant lineages.

Homology

Similarity due to shared ancestry, indicative of evolutionary relatedness.

Homoplasy

Similarity due to independent evolution, often obscuring evolutionary relationships.

Cladistics

Classification method based on shared derived characters.

Phenetics

Grouping organisms based on overall similarity.

Genetic Variation

Differences in DNA among individuals within a population.

Mutation

Source of new genetic variation and evolutionary change.

Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Model that describes allele frequency stability in large, randomly mating populations.

Equilibrium Conditions

Conditions that indicate absence of evolution over generations.

Acclimatization

Physiological adjustments occurring within an individual's lifetime.

Genetic Drift

Random fluctuations in allele frequencies due to chance events.

Natural Selection

Process through which advantageous traits increase in frequency in a population.

Fitness

An organism's ability to survive and reproduce successfully.

Directional Selection

Natural selection favoring one extreme phenotype over others.

Stabilizing Selection

Natural selection favoring intermediate phenotypes.

Disruptive Selection

Natural selection favoring two or more extreme phenotypes.

Intrasexual Selection

Competition among individuals of the same sex for access to mates.

Intersexual Selection

Mate choice based on specific traits or displays.

Exponential Growth

Population increase at a constant rate under ideal conditions.

Logistic Growth

Population growth that slows as it approaches carrying capacity.

Carrying Capacity (K)

Maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Density-Independent Factors

Factors affecting population size regardless of density.

Density-Dependent Factors

Factors whose effects vary with population density.

Survivorship Curve

Graphical representation of survival rates across different ages.

Type I Curve

High survival rate through most of lifespan, with rapid mortality in old age.

Type II Curve

Constant mortality rate throughout the lifespan of the species.

Type III Curve

High mortality rates early in life with lower rates for the survivors.

Life Table

Record of survival and reproduction rates within a population.

Essential Nutrients

Compounds organisms cannot synthesize and must obtain from dietary sources.

Macronutrients

Nutrients needed in large quantities for energy and building blocks.

Micronutrients

Nutrients required in smaller quantities, vital for health and function.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants convert CO2 and H2O into glucose using sunlight.

Light-Dependent Reactions

Part of photosynthesis that captures light energy to produce ATP and NADPH.

Calvin Cycle

Light-independent reactions that convert CO2 into glucose.

C4 Photosynthesis

Adaptation in plants to minimize photorespiration under hot conditions.

CAM Photosynthesis

Adaptation in arid environments where CO2 fixation occurs at night.

Plant Cell Wall

Rigid structure surrounding plant cells offering protection and support.

Plastids

Organelles in plant cells that contain chlorophyll and are involved in photosynthesis.

Totipotency

The ability of a single plant cell to develop into a complete plant.

Dermal Tissue

Outer protective layer of the plant, providing defense against damage.

Ground Tissue

Fills the plant body and is involved in multiple functions like storage and photosynthesis.

Vascular Tissue

Transport network of plants, comprising xylem and phloem.

Primary Growth

Increase in plant length due to activity of apical meristems.

Secondary Growth

Increase in plant girth due to lateral meristems.

Meristems

Tissues in plants that contain undifferentiated cells capable of division.

Xylem

Vascular tissue responsible for water and mineral transport from roots to shoots.

Phloem

Vascular tissue responsible for transporting sugars throughout the plant.

Ecological Succession

The process of change in species structure of an ecological community over time.

Primary Succession

Starts in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed.

Secondary Succession

Occurs in areas where soil is already present but has been disturbed.

Keystone Species

Species that have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance.

Dominant Species

The most abundant species in a community, affecting the structure and distribution of other species.

Biotic Factors

The living components of an ecosystem, including interactions among organisms.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living physical and chemical elements of an ecosystem.

Symbiosis

A close biological interaction between two different biological organisms.

Commensalism

A form of symbiosis where one organism benefits while the other is unaffected.

Mutualism

Symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

Parasitism

A relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of the other (the host).

Photosynthetic Adaptations

Enhancements in plants that improve carbon fixation efficiency.

Consumer-Resource Interactions

Interactions where one organism consumes another for energy and nutrients.

Trophic Levels

The levels in a food chain or web, based on an organism's feeding position.

Foundation Species

Species that form the base of a community and have a significant impact on its structure.

Ecological Pyramids

Models representing the biomass or energy at different trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Habitat

Natural environment where a species lives and thrives.

Competition

The struggle among organisms for limited resources.

Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition among individuals of the same species.

Interspecific Competition

Competition between individuals of different species.

Fecundity

The potential reproductive capacity of an individual or population.

Population Dynamics

The study of how populations change in size and structure over time.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Community Structure

The composition and organization of a community, including species diversity and interactions.

Species Richness

The total number of different species present in a given area.

Species Evenness

How evenly the individuals are distributed across the different species in a community.

Ecological Interactions

Relationships and interactions between organisms and their environment.

Energy Transfer

The flow of energy from one trophic level to another in an ecosystem.

Biomagnification

The process where the concentration of toxins increases at each trophic level.

Trophic Cascades

Indirect interactions in a food web that occur when a top predator is removed or added.

Pollution Accumulation

The buildup of pollutants in organisms or ecosystems over time.

Environmental Change

Alterations in the conditions and factors that affect living organisms.

Ecosystem Functioning

The integrated processes that take place within an ecosystem, maintaining its health.

Biodiversity Loss

The decline in the variety and variability of life forms in a given environment.

Conservation Biology

The study focused on protecting biodiversity and managing natural resources.