Biodiversity Grade 9 Flashcards

Front 1

Variations

Back 1

The differences in characteristics of organisms

Front 2

Biodiversity

Back 2

The number/variety of organisms in an area

Front 3

Ecosystem

Back 3

All organisms living in an area including nonliving physical components in the environment. ex. air, soil, water and, sunlight

Front 4

Community

Back 4

Different populations live in the same area, at the same time, of an ecosystem. (multiple populations)

Front 5

Population

Back 5

Members of the same species live in the same area, at the same time, and use the same resources.

Front 6

What are causes for lower biodiversity?

Back 6

1. Habitat loss

2. Invasive species

3. Pollution from farms,

4. Overfishing (fishing faster than reproducing)

5. Climate change

Front 7

What are benefits of biodiversity?

Back 7

1. Eco tourism

2. Learning from nature (scientist research)

3. Flood prevention

4. Clean water

Front 8

What are ways we are trying to protect biodiversity?

Back 8

1. Protected areas

2. Access and benefit sharing (sharing scientific info),

3. Urban spaces (parks)

Front 9

Species

Back 9

A group of organisms capable of interbreeding, producing fertile offspring

Ex. Horse + horse = horse, donkey + donkey = donkey, horse + donkey = mule, which cannot reproduce, so it is sterile and is not a species

Front 10

Sexual Dimorphism

Back 10

Differences between the males and females in a species

Front 11

Speciation

Back 11

How new species evolve, species may have similar characteristics but have adapted over time ex. housecats, bobcats, lynxes, lions

Front 12

Adaptation

Back 12

A trait that helps an organism’s chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment.

Front 13

Structural Adaptation

Back 13

The physical features and characteristics of a plant or animal to help it compete for resources and survive

Ex. Colour, eyes, horns, feet, Thicker fur in the winter

Front 14

Behavioral Adaptation

Back 14

The activities and behaviors of an animal to help it better able to compete or survive

Ex. Migration, mating, hunting, nest building

Front 15

Adaptations of a Camel

Back 15

Behavioral: Find water, drink cactus sap

Structural: Eyelids/eyelashes help filter out sand, pads on feet, fat stored in hump, don’t sweat, thick lips, can digest sticks, thorns, etc.,

Front 16

Adaptations of a Beaver

Back 16

Structural: Big teeth, webbed feet, oily fur, strong teeth, warm fur, poor eyes, big lungs, claws waterproof eyelids

Behavioral: Dam construction, swim, drag trees, cut down trees, live in family groups, eat twigs/small branches, store food under water

Front 17

Niche

Back 17

An organism's role within a particular ecosystem; its place and function

Ex. Where it lives, what it does, it’s role in its ecosystem

Front 18

Niche of a Deer

Back 18

Lives in the foothills and grasslands, live in small groups and eat grass

Front 19

Niche of a Salmon

Back 19

Lives in the ocean, swim up freshwater rivers to spawn

Front 20

Broad niche/generalist:

Back 20

- An organism that can live in a variety of climates/ecosystems and can eat a variety of food sources

- Can adapt to changes

- Cannot compete well with a specialist for the same food source

Ex. Deer, raven, bears

Front 21

Narrow niche/specialist

Back 21

- Has adaptations that make it very efficient at existing in a specific climate/ecosystem, and only eats a specific food source

- Cannot adapt to change

- Allows many different species to live in the same ecosystem, and also serves to limit the growth of a single species

Ex. Pandas, Koalas, Cactus

Front 22

Reproduction

Back 22

Adaptations and variations are passed from generation to generation; Traits and characteristics that are passed on from the parents to the offspring are heritable

Front 23

Asexual Reproduction

Back 23

The formation of an offspring involving only one parent; the DNA of the offspring is the same as the parent's

Front 24

Binary Fission

Back 24

A cell duplicates its contents, then splits into 2 identical cells; only single celled organisms do this

Ex. Bacteria

Front 25

Spores

Back 25

Similar to seeds but produced by the division of cells of the parent, not by the union of two cells; many spores are produced to ensure that some of the organisms will survive

Front 26

Vegetative Growth

Back 26

- The rapidly growing tips of roots and stems contain specialized reproductive cells called meristem, which plants can grow continuously through Meristem cells.

- Clones can be made from the cuttings of the plant because of the Meristem cells

- If parts of the plant are damaged, the meristem cells make repairs

Front 27

Budding

Back 27

Offspring grows from the parent, eventually separating into it own individual. buds contain their own nucleus.

Ex. Sea sponges, coral, hydra

Front 28

Mitosis

Back 28

Genetic material is duplicated and divided – both new cells have identical chromosomes as the parent nucleus

Front 29

Sexual Reproduction

Back 29

The union of two mating types or two sexes, which results in a combination of genes from both parents

Front 30

Gametes

Back 30

Sex cells are called gametes. The gametes carry the genetic information of the parents.

Ex. Male gametes: sperm

Female gametes: eggs

Front 31

Zygote

Back 31

A zygote is a fertilized egg (product of a sperm cell fertilizing an egg cell)

Front 32

Explain sexual reproduction in plants.

Back 32

- Most plants produce both male and female gametes; some only produce one or the other

- Male and female gametes join to produce a zygote (fruit and seeds)

- Cross-pollination occurs when pollen from one plant is carried to the stigma of another plant

- Many plants are able to reproduce both sexually and asexually.

Front 33

Bacterial Conjugation

Back 33

Bacteria are able to transfer genetic material directly from one cell to another; Not actually reproduction because there is not an increase in the number of cells

Front 34

Explain sexual reproduction in animals.

Back 34

- Involves gametes (Male sperm, female, egg)

- Gametes combine to form a zygote

- Zygote divides into two cells which is repeated over and over to create an embryo

- The cell division will take place inside the female (most mammals) or outside in an egg (most other animals)

Front 35

Meiosis

Back 35

The formation of the sex cells

Front 36

Hermaphrodites

Back 36

Organisms that can produce male and female gametes.

Ex. Slugs, garden worms (they can reproduce with themselves if they want)

Front 37

What are advantages of asexual reproduction?

Back 37

- Does not require specialized cells or a way of uniting gametes

- No energy or time lost to finding mate

- Can produce lots of offspring very quickly

Front 38

What are advantages of sexual reproduction?

Back 38

It provides lots of variation which helps the species survive environmental change

Front 39

What are disadvantages of asexual reproduction?

Back 39

If conditions become unfavorable, the entire population may be wiped out (because they are identical)

Front 40

What are disadvantages of sexual reproduction?

Back 40

- It takes a lot of energy and time, meaning limited offspring produced

Front 41

Genetic Storage

Back 41

All of your genetic information is stored in the nucleus of a cell

Front 42

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

Back 42

- Found inside nucleus of the cell

- Contains all genetic info

- DNA is made up of 4 different proteins called nucleotides, (A) adenine, (T) thymine (G) guanine (C) cytosine, they occur in pairs (A-T) and (G-C)

- Smallest to largest: DNA → Genes → Chromosomes → Nucleus

Front 43

How many chromosomes do humans have?

Back 43

Humans have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).

Front 44

How is our sex determined?

Back 44

Our sex is determined by the 23rd pair of chromosomes.

Front 45

How do you know if you are male or female?

Back 45

In males the 23rd pair is XY, in females the 23rd pair is XX

Front 46

Genes

Back 46

- A section of the chromosome

- Each chromosome has numerous gene locations

- Are always paired

Front 47

The Genetic Code

Back 47

Characteristics are passed on from one generation to another within a species through the genetic code of the parents; Researchers can use this – they now know where to focus their search for genetic diseases

Front 48

Genome

Back 48

The total code for DNA

Front 49

Chromosomal Disorders

Back 49

- Some genetic diseases are the result of the chromosomes not coming together in the right combinations (can be more or less than 46 chromosomes)

- If even one chromosome is missing, information will be missing. This will likely lead to problems for that organism

Front 50

Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)

Back 50

- Results from an extra copy of chromosome 21

- People with Down Syndrome have 47 chromosomes

Front 51

Continuous Variation

Back 51

- There are a wide variety of possible outcomes

- Hair colour, skin colour, and height

Front 52

Discrete Variation

Back 52

- There are only a fixed number of possible outcomes

Ex. A, B, AB, O blood, tongue rolling, smooth/pointed hairline

Front 53

Dominant or Recessive Trait

Back 53

- An offspring will inherit two genotypes for each genetic traits

- The dominant genetic genotype will always win over any other genotype

Ex. mid-digital hair, bent middle finger, brown eyes, hand clasping (left on top)

Front 54

Recessive Traits

Back 54

- When recessive genetic traits are paired with dominant traits the dominant trait will always win

- The recessive trait will win only if it is paired with another recessive trait.

- Even if the recessive trait is not expressed, it is present.

Front 55

Punnett Squares

Back 55

Used to predict the possible genetic results of how parent genotypes could possibly combine

Front 56

Symbiosis

Back 56

The dependence between species

Front 57

Commensalism

Back 57

- One benefits, the other is unaffected

- Neither is harmed

Ex. bird building nest on a tree; barnacles on whales

Front 58

Mutualism

Back 58

The relationship benefits both species

Ex. The clown fish, protected from outsiders, lives in the sea anemone, and the clownfish eats small invertebrates which potentially could harm the anemone + fecal matter from the clownfish provides nutrients

Front 59

Parasitism

Back 59

- The relationship harms one organism and benefits the other

- Sometimes, the host becomes so weakened from the parasite that the host dies.

Ex. fleas, tapeworm

Front 60

Artificial Selection

Back 60

- Scientists use selective breeding to perform artificial selection

- Plants and animals have been bred for specific traits

- Only individuals with the desired trait will be allowed to reproduce

Ex. Miniature dogs, polled cattle (no horns); Plant example - Flour that is higher in protein

Front 61

Domestic Animals

Back 61

- An animal that is no longer wild (but their descendants were), and have been bred and tamed by humans.

- They perform a specific task or are a food source

Ex. Cows, horses, dogs

Front 62

Artificial Selection (Humans)

Back 62

- Humans select for a desirable characteristic (size, colour, resistance to disease, length of time to mature, resistance to extreme temperatures, and taste)

- The main difference between artificial and natural selection is that humans control the artificial selection process

Ex. Cloning, Artificial insemination: artificially joining the male and female gametes

Front 63

Theory: Survival of the Fittest

Back 63

- All organisms produce more offspring than can possibly survive.

- There is great variation within each species.

- Few of these variations increase an organism's chance to survive

- Over time, these variations lead to changes in the genetic characteristics of the species.

Front 64

Natural Selection

Back 64

- Occurs when changes in the environment chooses which individuals within a species will be able to survive

- If they live long enough to reproduce, they will pass on their survival adaptations to their offspring

Front 65

Cloning

Back 65

- DNA is taken from one organism and putting it into a fertilized egg

- All other cells formed are exact DNA copies of the original

- There are no variations or adaptations

Front 66

Genetic Engineering/Biotechnology

Back 66

- A gene or a strand of DNA is transported from one species to another

- A desirable trait from one organism is given to another.

- An artificial variation is created for that organism.

Ex. Putting pesticide into potato plant, putting anti-freeze into Arctic Salmon/Halibut

Front 67

Transgenic Animals

Back 67

- Human DNA (proteins) is inserted into animals, and can now produce human proteins

- Transgenic animals can also be used for human organ transplants (pigs)

- Goats can now produce spider webs because of spider DNA inside the goat

Front 68

Cost-Effective Crops

Back 68

- Many crops (Wheat, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, etc) have been genetically altered

- Longer shelf life, insect resistant, more nutritious

- Larger crops, higher yield

Front 69

Human Impacts

Back 69

- Large human populations put pressure on the environment

- Impact of the population explosion is not shared equally around the globe

- Most extinctions and extirpations are caused today by human activity

Front 70

Disappearing Habitats

Back 70

- Some areas of the world support greater biodiversity than others.

- One of the largest causes of extinction has been human interference and the loss of habitat.

Ex. The burning and destruction of the rainforest is the largest loss of habitat and cause for extinction of specialized organisms

Front 71

Bioindicator Species

Back 71

- The population of this species is an indication of the health/condition of that ecosystem.

- It is usually an animal on the top of a food chain.

Ex. Grizzly bears, wolves, sharks, falcons

Front 72

Extinction

Back 72

- Is the disappearance of every individual of a species from the entire planet

- The rate of extinction had been about one species per year

- Today the rate of extinction is closer to 70 extinctions per day.

- 99% of the species that have ever existed are now extinct

- Natural extinction can be caused by lack of food, disease

Ex. Woolly mammoth, passenger pigeon, dodo bird

Front 73

Extirpation

Back 73

- A local extinction or the disappearance of a species from a particular area

- Extirpation examples: Grizzly bears, Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, pandas

Front 74

What are causes of extinction?

Back 74

- Catastrophic events (volcanic eruptions, earth quakes, floods, fire)

- Lack of food (overpopulation)

- Disease

- Overspecialization (ex. Giant pandas only rely on bamboo, making it vulnerable to extinction)

- Human impacts (logging, construction, pollution)

Front 75

Genotype

Back 75

Your traits in your genes

Front 76

Phenotype

Back 76

Trait that is expressed (dominant trait)

Front 77

In-situ

Back 77

When you conserve a species inside its natural habitat

Ex. Forest, desert, where the species usually lives

Front 78

Ex-situ

Back 78

When you conserve a species outside its natural habitat

Ex. Zoos

Front 79

Why would we want to make a clone?

Back 79

-Recreate dead things and make an exact copy, such as pets and even humans

- Recreate extinct species

- Clone famous figures, clone people from the past many years ago