GEE 001 - Biodiversity and Evolution

Biodiversity

The variety of life found in genes, species, ecosystems, and ecosystem processes

Species Diversity

The number and variety of species present in a biological community

Genetic Diversity

The variety of genes within a population or species

Ecological Diversity

The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on earth

Functional Diversity

The biological and chemical processes, such as energy flow and matter recycling, needed for species and ecosystems to survive

Species

A set of individuals that can mate with one another and produce fertile offspring

Biome

A large ecosystem with a distinct climate and specific types of species, such as a desert, grassland, or forest

Niche

The role a species plays in its ecosystem, including everything that affects its survival and reproduction

Habitat

The geographic location where a species lives

Generalist Species

A species with a broad niche that can live in a wide range of environments and is less prone to extinction

Specialist Species

A species with a narrow niche that lives in only a few types of habitats and is more prone to extinction

Native Species

A species that normally lives and thrives in a particular ecosystem

Nonnative Species

A species that migrates into, or is deliberately or accidentally introduced into, an ecosystem it did not originate from

Indicator Species

A species sensitive to environmental changes that gives early warning of damage to a community or ecosystem

Keystone Species

A species that has a large effect on the types and abundance of other species in an ecosystem, such as through pollination or population regulation

Evolution (Biological Evolution)

The process by which species change genetically over time, mainly through natural selection

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals with genetic traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully, passing those traits to offspring

Mutation

A random or environmentally caused change in an organism's genetic makeup (DNA)

Adaptive Trait

A heritable trait that gives an individual an advantage in surviving and reproducing

Genetic Resistance

The ability of some organisms in a population to tolerate a chemical, such as a pesticide or antibiotic, designed to kill them

Speciation

The process by which one species splits into two or more different species

Geographic Isolation

The physical separation of populations of the same species by barriers like mountains, rivers, or distance

Reproductive Isolation

A situation where geographically separated populations evolve independently until they can no longer interbreed

Artificial Selection

The human-directed process of selectively breeding organisms with desired genetic traits

Genetic Engineering

The direct manipulation of an organism's genes, including transferring genes between species, to produce desired traits

Extinction

The complete disappearance of a species from earth

Endemic Species

A species found only in one unique geographic area, making it especially vulnerable to extinction

Background Extinction

The normal, slower rate of species extinction that occurred before significant human impact

Mass Extinction

A sharp rise in the extinction rate above the background level, often caused by major global environmental change