Biology Exam 2 Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and definitions from the lecture notes on biology.

Precambrian

Made up the majority of Earth’s history, featuring mostly prokaryotic life and the first simple animals.

Paleozoic Era

The era characterized by the first plants, vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, and reptiles.

Mesozoic Era

The era known for the first birds, flowering plants, and mammals, with major diversification of reptiles, including dinosaurs.

Cenozoic Era

The era marked by major diversification of mammals, birds, and flowering plants.

Macroevolution

Changes above the species level.

Gradualism

The most accepted view where mutations gradually lead to differences in offspring that accumulate over time.

Punctuated Equilibrium

A concept that explains rapid macroevolutionary events and attempts to describe how the fossil record shows accelerated evolution.

Adaptive Radiation

An evolutionary concept that explains quick diversification of species gaining access to new regions.

Allopatric Speciation

A form of speciation that occurs when a geographic barrier prevents individuals from mating between populations.

Sympatric Speciation

Speciation occurring due to reduced access to mating driven by microhabitat features or polyploidy.

Inbreeding

Mating between closely related individuals.

Hydrothermal Vent Hypothesis

A hypothesis suggesting that superheated water from the seafloor allowed for concentrated chemistry and complexity over time.

Warm Pond Hypothesis

A hypothesis that small, wet and dry cycling bodies of water encouraged the formation of complex organic molecules.

Meteorite Hypothesis

A hypothesis positing that building blocks for bio-macromolecules found on meteorites may have seeded Earth.

RNA

Thought to be the first genetic material, acting both as an enzyme and genetic material, but unstable.

Stages of Life Development

1. Formation of simple organic molecules 2. Building of complex organic molecules 3. Packaging of life-like chemical reactions 4. Self-replication of chemical reactions.

Oxygen in Atmosphere

Generated by life processes.

Endosymbiont Theory

The theory positing that chloroplasts and mitochondria originated from independent prokaryotic cells engulfed by early eukaryotes.

Ardipithecus

A hominid that showed signs of upright walking but probably still walked on all fours in trees.

Australopithecus

A hominid with a larger brain that was fully upright and used tools.

Homo habilis

An early human species known for using specialized tools for cutting meat.

Homo erectus

An early human species with a larger brain that may have had control over fire.

Homo neanderthalensis

A hominid with the largest brain, showing signs of technology and possibly cultural practices.

Homo sapiens

Modern humans noted for better communication and problem solving.

Out of Africa Hypothesis

The hypothesis suggesting that humans originated in Africa and trace back to a single woman lineage from about 200,000 years ago.

Desert Biome

Characterized by dry conditions, seasonal temperatures, and primarily succulents and smaller animals.

Tropical Rainforest Biome

A biome that is wet and warm year-round, noted for the highest biodiversity.

Savannah Biome

A biome that is dry most of the year with seasonal rains, predominantly grassland with large herbivores.

Prairie Biome

Similar to a savannah but with fewer trees and a different set of large herbivores.

Taiga Biome

Forests dominated by conifers, with short, mild summers and a generally cold climate.

Tundra Biome

A very cold biome characterized by few trees, mostly shrubs and mosses, with a layer of permafrost.

Deciduous Forest Biome

Tempered forests having broad-leafed trees, with seasonal rainfall and temperatures.

Swamp

Wetland mostly trees

Thermocline

Temperature transition zones

Ecological Footprint

The amount of resource demand in a region.

Population Density

The number of individuals per area.

Boom and Bust Cycle

A population dynamic involving exponential growth followed by a crash.

Life Expectancy

The average lifespan of individuals in a region.

Altricial Young

Offspring that require extensive care from parents, often associated with monogamous pairings.

Precocial Young

Offspring that do not require much or any care, often associated with polygamous pairings.

Distribution Patterns of Populations

Random, clumped, and uniform distributions resulting from resource availability and behaviors.

Exponential Population Growth

A constant rate of growth whereby births increase with an increasing population, assuming unlimited resources.

Logistic Growth Model

Population growth that takes into account resource limits, represented by an 'S' shaped curve with carrying capacity.

Competition

-, -

Mutualism

+,+

Commensalism

+,0

Parasitism

+,-

Predation

+,-

Keystone Species

A species that supports the entire community despite being in relatively low abundance.

Ecological Succession

The process of community change over time, typically transitioning from grasses to hardwood trees.

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

The theory proposing that moderate disturbances lead to increased biodiversity in ecosystems.

Chemical

Skunk

Aposematic

Warning coloration

cryptic

Camouflage

Batesain

Harmless species mimics a harmful one

Millerian

2 harmful species reinforces each other coloration