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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT a component of biodiversity?
What does genetic diversity specifically refer to?
What is species diversity most accurately defined as?
Which of the following best describes ecosystem diversity?
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What is one of the primary uses for biodiversity?
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What is one of the primary functions of mangroves in coastal ecosystems?
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Which of the following ecosystems is primarily a habitat for fish nurseries?
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Coral reefs are primarily found in which type of water?
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What is the main factor that distinguishes climate from weather?
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What type of ecosystem is characterized by being dominated by trees partially submerged in water?
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Which biome is known for having bitterly cold temperatures and being covered with snow for most of the year?
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Which ecosystem functions as a buffer against wave action and stabilizes sediments in the water?
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What is the primary source of nutrients in tropical rain forest soil?
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Which of the following is NOT considered a prominent marine ecosystem in the Caribbean?
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What is a key characteristic of biomes?
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Which aquatic ecosystem is a primary food source for marine animals such as turtles and manatees?
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What is the role of nitrates and phosphates in seagrass beds?
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Taiga is primarily known for which of the following characteristics?
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What defines the precipitation patterns in desert biomes?
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Study Notes
Biodiversity
- Includes genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
- The variety of life on Earth is called biodiversity.
Genetic Diversity
- The variation of genes within a single species.
Species Diversity
- Refers to the variety of living organisms (species) present on Earth.
- Approximately 1.7 – 2 million species have been formally identified.
Ecosystem Diversity
- Also called ecological diversity.
- The variety of ecosystems on Earth such as forests, deserts, grasslands, and oceans.
Importance of Biodiversity
- Humans depend on a rich variety of genes, species, and ecosystems.
- Biodiversity is used in agriculture, industry, medicine, ecosystem stability, science, genetic engineering, aesthetics, and ethics.
Aquatic Ecosystems
- Ecosystems within a body of water.
- Classified as freshwater or marine.
Marine Ecosystems in the Caribbean
- Mangroves
- Seagrass Beds
- Coral Reefs
Mangroves
- Located between the sea and land in areas inundated by tides.
- Dominated by trees partially submerged in coastal wetlands.
- Habitat for ~2000 species.
Functions of Mangroves
- Protects the shoreline from erosion.
- Serves as a fish nursery.
- Absorbs excess water.
- Filters water from the land.
- Encourages sediment deposition.
Seagrass Beds
- Important foraging ground for various fish species: grouper, grunt, snook, snapper, parrotfish, barracuda, and tarpon.
- Primary food source for turtles, manatees, urchins, and parrotfish.
- Fish nursery ground.
Functions of Seagrass Beds
- Buffers wave action to stabilize sediments and create clearer waters.
- Filters nitrates and phosphates from the water column.
Coral Reefs
- Found in warm, tropical, and subtropical oceans (equatorial region).
- Located in coastal, shallow waters.
Functions of Coral Reefs
- Habitat for many marine plants and animals.
- Protects the shoreline from erosion.
Abiotic Factors: Weather and Climate
- Weather refers to short-term changes in temperature, pressure, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions at a specific place and time.
- Climate is the average weather of an area taken over a period of at least 30 years.
- Temperature and precipitation are the two key factors that determine climate.
Biomes
- Large, relatively distinct terrestrial regions characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals regardless of their location.
- Climate and vegetation vary with latitude and altitude.
Major Biomes
- Tropical rainforest
- Savannah
- Desert
- Chaparral
- Temperate grassland
- Temperate deciduous forest
- Temperate rainforest
- Taiga
- Tundra
Tundra
- Also called "arctic tundra."
- Located just south of the arctic polar ice cap.
- Covered with ice and snow for most of the year.
- Bitterly cold.
- Characterized by permafrost.
Taiga
- Also called "swamp forest" or "boreal forest."
- Located south of the arctic tundra.
- Long, cold, dry winters with 6-8 hours of sunlight.
- Dominated by a few species of coniferous evergreens.
Tropical Rainforest
- Found near the equator.
- Warm temperatures.
- High precipitation.
- Thin, nutrient-poor soil.
- High biological diversity.
- Often lost to slash-and-burn cultivation and logging.
Deserts
- Receive very low precipitation.
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Description
Explore the concepts of biodiversity, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. Understand the significance of biodiversity to human life and its various applications in agriculture, medicine, and more. Dive into the specifics of aquatic ecosystems, especially in the Caribbean.
