Unit 1: Biological Diversity

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Variation

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Differences in characteristics of organisms caused by genetic or environmental factors.

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Biological Diversity

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The number and variety of organisms in an area

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Species

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A group of organisms that share similar genetic and physical characteristics; generally these organisms can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

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Speciation

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The evolution of different species from a single ancestor

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Structural Adaptation

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An inherited physical characteristics that helps an organism survive in its environment

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Behavioral Adaptation

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An inherited characteristic behaviour that helps an organism survive in its environment

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Diversity Index

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A measure of the biological diversity in an area, calculated by dividing the number of runs in a walkthrough of an area by the total number of specimens

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Environment

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The area or conditions in which an organism lives; sometimes used to refer exclusively to natural areas on Earth

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Competition

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The struggle among individual organisms for access to a limited resource, such as food or territory

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Broad Niche

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The roles or characteristic activities filled by a generalist organism

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Generalist

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An organism with generalized requirements and adaptations that allow it to survive in variable conditions and depend on a variety of food sources; generalists tend to have broad niches

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Specialist

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A type of organism that is adapted to very specific environments; having a narrow niche

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Narrow Niche

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A highly specialized role or characteristic activity undertaken by an organism in the ecosystem

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Specialization

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Adaptations for surviving in very specific environments

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Symbiotic

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An interaction between organisms of different species living in close proximity of each other in a relationship that lasts over time

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Heritable

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A genetic characteristic; that is, one that can be passed on from parent to offspring

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Reproductive Strategy

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A method that an organism uses to reproduce

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Sexual Reproduction

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Reproductive process involving two sexes or mating types, and resulting in offspring with a combination of genes from both parents

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Asexual Reproduction

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The formation of a new individual from a single organism

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Binary Fission

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The splitting of a single-celled organism into two new organisms approximately equal in size; amoebae and many bacteria reproduce asexually through this proccess

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Spore

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A single celled reproductive structure from which an individual offspring develops; plants, algae, fungi, and some protozoa produce spores

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Zoospore

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A flagellated asexual spore; the algae "Chlamydomonas" reproduces by zoospores

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Meristem

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An area of cell division of unspecialized cells in the tips of roots and shoots that produces new growth in plants

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Clone

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An identical copy of a molecule, gene, cell, or entire organism

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Budding

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An asexual reproduction process in which a bud forms on an organism, grows, and eventually breaks away to become a new organism independent of the parent

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Zygospore

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A single-celled reproductive structure formed in sexual reproduction by some fungi; they contain genetic information from two different mating types, - and +

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Bacterial Conjugation

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The direct transfer of genetic material (DNA) from one bacterial cell to another

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Zygote

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The new cell formed by the process of fertilization

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Pistil

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The seed-producing, or female part of a flower

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Stamen

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The part of a flower that contains pollen

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Ovule

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The plant part that develops into a seed

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Pollen Tube

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In a plant, a tube that grows from a pollen grain toward the ovule

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Embryo

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A multicellular organisms during early development

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Cotyledon

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A seed-leaf; a structure in a seed that nourishes the plant embryo

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Self-Pollination

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Pollination of an ovule in a flower with pollen from the same flower

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Cross-Pollination

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Pollination of an ovule in a flower with pollen from a different individual plant

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Genetics

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The study of genes or heritable traits

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Continuous Variation

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In genetics, traits that show a range of possibilities

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Discrete Variation

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In genetics, inherited traits that have a limited number of variations, such as the ability or inability to roll one's tounge

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Dominant Trait

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An inherited trait that shows up in the offspring

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Recessive Trait

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An inherited trait that shows up in the offspring only if both parents passed on the genes for the trait; when mixed with genes for a dominant trait, a this trait does not show up in the offspring

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Mutation

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A change in the genetic information, or DNA, of an organism

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Mutagen

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An agent that can cause changes in the genetic information of an organism

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DNA

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(Deoxyribonucleic Acid) a molecule that stores genetic information for heitable traits and directs the structure and functions of cells

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Chromosome

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In a cell, tyghtly packed strands of DNA visible under a light microscope during cell division

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Gene

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A section of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific protein and function

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Somatic Cells

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Body cells, not the egg or sperm (reproductive cells)

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Genetic Engineering

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The artificial introduction of genes from one organism into the genetic material of another

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Biotechnology

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Using or modifying living organisms to make marketable products; sometime involves genetic engineering

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Transgenic

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An organism produced by moving DNA from one organism to another to create a new genetic combination

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Aquaculture

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Fish farming

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Domestic Animal

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An animal that is no longer wild, but has been bred or tamed by humans to perform various functions

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Artificial Selection

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Technique in which individual plants or animals with desirable traits are bred together to develop plants or animals with specific traits; also called selective breeding

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Natural Selection

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A naturally occuring process in which only those organisms with the best traits for survival in an environment survive to reproduce; over time this process results in changes in the genetic characteristics of a species

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Extirpation

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The extinction of a species from a specific geographical area

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Bioindicator species

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Species that help indicate environmental change

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Seed Bank

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A collection of genetically diverse seeds

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Global Treaties

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International agreements between many nations worldwide

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Protected Areas

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Natural areas protected by law from certain kinds of human activities; includes preserves, refuges, and provincial and national parks