Biology Flashcards - B2 (1)

Front 1

What are natural classification systems based on?

Back 1

The evolutionary relationships and genetic similarities between organisms

Front 2

What are artificial classification systems based on?

Back 2

The appearance rather than genes

Front 3

What is the order of the classification systems?

Back 3

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Front 4

What is a species?

Back 4

A group of organisms capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring

Front 5

What is a genus?

Back 5

A group of closely related species

Front 6

Why can it be difficult to classify organisms into the distinct groups?

Back 6

Many organisms share characteristics of multiple groups

Front 7

What does DNA sequencing allow us to see?

Back 7

The genetic differences between different groups

Front 8

What is asexual reproduction?

Back 8

The organism makes a copy of its self to create offspring. Eg bacteria

Front 9

What are hybrids?

Back 9

Created when a male and female from different species breed.

Front 10

Why are hybrids difficult to classify?

Back 10

They are often infertile and so aren't a new species

Front 11

What is the binomial system?

Back 11

A two–part naming system

Front 12

What does the first and second part of the binomial system refer to?

Back 12

First = genus
Second = species

Front 13

Why is the binomial system important?

Back 13

It is used by scientists all over the world so despite speaking other langauges they refer to a particular species by the same name

Front 14

Why might closely related species look different?e

Back 14

Evolved in different habitats

Front 15

What is a pyramid of biomass?

Back 15

Each bar/level shows the dry mass of living material at each stage

Front 16

Why are pyramids almost always pyramid–shaped?

Back 16

Because biomass is lost at each stage in the food chain

Front 17

Why is measuring dry biomass difficult?

Back 17

You have to kill the organism

Front 18

What are pyramids of numbers?

Back 18

Each bar/level shows the number of organisms at that stage of the food chain

Front 19

What is energy lost through at each stage of food chains?

Back 19

Respiration, as heat, egestion and excretion

Front 20

What is the equation for efficiency?

Back 20

Efficiency = useful energy output/ total energy input

Front 21

What is interspecific competition?

Back 21

Competition between different species

Front 22

What is intraspecific competition?

Back 22

Competition between the same species

Front 23

Which type of competition has the greatest impact and why?

Back 23

Intraspecific because the organims are competiting for the exact same resources

Front 24

Why are predator and prey relationships always out of phase?

Back 24

It takes time for changes to effect the species
Eg. reproduction or death

Front 25

What is a parasite/parasitic relationship?

Back 25

An organism which lives off a host. It takes what it needs but does not give anything back which often harms the host.
Eg. Fleas on a dog

Front 26

What is a mutualistic relationship?
Give an example

Back 26

Where both organisms benefit
Eg. Ox–peckers and buffalo

Front 27

What is an adaptation?

Back 27

A feature that makes an organism better suited to their environment

Front 28

What is a specialist?

Back 28

An organism that is specifically adapted to one habitat
Eg. Giant pandas and bamboo

Front 29

What is a generalist?

Back 29

An organism that are adapted to survive in a range of habitats
Eg. Black rats = forests, cities, farmland

Front 30

What are "extremophiles"?
Give an example

Back 30

Organisms that are adapted to extreme conditions of temperature or pH
Eg. Extremophile bacteria do not denature at high temperatures
Eg. Organisms in very cold environments have antifreeze proteins

Front 31

What are 3 anatomical adaptations to cold environments?

Back 31

– A thick coat or fat/blubber = insulates
– Having a small surface area to volume ratio
Large organisms lose less heat because they have a smaller surface area to volume ratio
– Counter current heat exchange

Front 32

Explain counter current heat exchange
E.g. penguins

Back 32

– Blood vessels pass close to each other and allow heat to transfer when the blood flows in opposite directions
– This means, feet stay cold but prevents cold blood in veins - would cool body down

Front 33

What are 3 behavioural adapations to cold environments?

Back 33

Migration to warmer climates
Hibernate = saves energy
Huddle together = keep warm

Front 34

What are 3 anatomical adaptations to hot environments?

Back 34

– Small body (Large surface area to volume ratio) = lose more body heat
– Large ears (increase surface area to volume ratio) = blood flow near skin
– Store fat in 1 part = not insulated all over - allowing heat lost easily e.g. camel

Front 35

What are 3 behavioural adaptations to hot environments?

Back 35

– Go in the shade or underground = reduce heat gain
– Active at night = reduce heat gain
– Bathe in water = water evaporates and transfers heat from skin to the surroundings = increase heat loss

Front 36

What are four adaptations cactus have to dry conditions?

Back 36

– Thick waxy cuticle and spines = reduce water loss
– Small surface area to volume ratio = minimise water loss
– Long roots = reach water
– Store water in the stems