Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which activity is least likely to enhance comprehension and memorization of lecture material?
Which activity is least likely to enhance comprehension and memorization of lecture material?
- Avoiding copying lecture slides verbatim.
- Focusing on understanding lecture content and asking questions.
- Revising notes against lecture slides.
- Transcribing lecture slides word for word. (correct)
What is the primary focus of Scott's pop quizzes in the described course?
What is the primary focus of Scott's pop quizzes in the described course?
- Material from the start of the semester.
- Material since the previous quiz. (correct)
- Material from the upcoming lectures.
- Material from the assigned readings only.
Which concept is most directly related to the terms species, biodiversity, and taxonomy?
Which concept is most directly related to the terms species, biodiversity, and taxonomy?
- Methods for conserving endangered species.
- Formal systems to describe the variety of life. (correct)
- The impact of human activity on ecosystems.
- The role of genetics in evolution.
What underlying process is understood to have led to the variety of life?
What underlying process is understood to have led to the variety of life?
What defines a species, according to the discussed concepts?
What defines a species, according to the discussed concepts?
What is the main contribution of Carl Linnaeus to modern biology?
What is the main contribution of Carl Linnaeus to modern biology?
Which level of hierarchical classification includes the broadest range of organisms?
Which level of hierarchical classification includes the broadest range of organisms?
Using the total estimates, which group has the largest disparity between known and estimated species?
Using the total estimates, which group has the largest disparity between known and estimated species?
How do scientists view taxonomic classifications?
How do scientists view taxonomic classifications?
What is included when defining biodiversity?
What is included when defining biodiversity?
Within species diversity, what do 'richness' and 'evenness' refer to respectively?
Within species diversity, what do 'richness' and 'evenness' refer to respectively?
What is the significance of genetic diversity within a species?
What is the significance of genetic diversity within a species?
What aspects does ecological diversity encompass?
What aspects does ecological diversity encompass?
What are the three broad sub-classes that mammals can be divided into??
What are the three broad sub-classes that mammals can be divided into??
If the number of species in a community is high, the ________ is high
If the number of species in a community is high, the ________ is high
What is the primary outcome of natural selection?
What is the primary outcome of natural selection?
What are the three propositions upon which natural selection rests?
What are the three propositions upon which natural selection rests?
How do adaptations arise in a population?
How do adaptations arise in a population?
What best describes the term 'adaptation'?
What best describes the term 'adaptation'?
Which is an example of artificial selection?
Which is an example of artificial selection?
Which of the following statements best summarizes the concept of taxonomy?
Which of the following statements best summarizes the concept of taxonomy?
What is the fundamental principle underlying natural selection?
What is the fundamental principle underlying natural selection?
Which outcome demonstrates the human impact to select species traits for their own purposes?
Which outcome demonstrates the human impact to select species traits for their own purposes?
What is a key characteristic of traits that evolve through natural selection?
What is a key characteristic of traits that evolve through natural selection?
Flashcards
Taxonomy
Taxonomy
Formal system to describe variety of life.
Species
Species
Primary taxonomic unit; interbreeding natural populations.
Taxonomy
Taxonomy
The theory and practice of classifying organisms.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Signup and view all the flashcards
Species diversity
Species diversity
Signup and view all the flashcards
Genetic diversity
Genetic diversity
Signup and view all the flashcards
Ecological diversity
Ecological diversity
Signup and view all the flashcards
Natural Selection
Natural Selection
Signup and view all the flashcards
Evolution
Evolution
Signup and view all the flashcards
Adaptation
Adaptation
Signup and view all the flashcards
Artificial selection
Artificial selection
Signup and view all the flashcards
Study Notes
- Formal systems describe the variety of life
- Systems describing life's variety have led to terms like species, biodiversity, and taxonomy
- Natural Selection is understood to have led to the variety of life
Defining Species
- It can be hard to give a simple answer.
- The primary taxonomic unit
- Groups of actually or potential interbreeding natural populations genetically isolated from other groups by one or more reproductively isolating mechanisms
Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778)
- Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician
- Linnaean taxonomy is also known as binomial nomenclature
- Taxonomy is the theory and practice of naming and classifying organisms
- Systema Naturae's first edition was published in 1735
- It is a widely accepted system of classification used to describe species and relationships among them
- Systema Naturae used morphology to classify (how organisms looked different)
- The system is still in use today, though it has more emphasis on genetics than morphology
Hierarchical Classification (Taxonomic Levels)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Cephalopoda
- Order: Teuthoida
- Family: Cranchiidae
- Genus: Mesonychoteuthis
- Species: hamiltoni
- Scientific Name: Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
- Common Name: colossal squid
Diversity and Quantity
- Science has identified about 1.9 million species
- Estimates for the species on Earth range from 3 to 11 million
Taxonomic Levels
- All taxonomic levels are derived by humans
- Classifications represent scientists' attempts to describe the relationships among species and history of taxonomic groups
- Scientists strive to be correct
- Organisms dictate if a classification is correct
- Understanding and agreeing upon species, taxonomic groups, and their relationships can be challenging
- Classifications are a way for humans to describe the variety of life they observe
Mammals
- Mammals can be divided into three Sub-Classes: Monotreme, Marsupial, and Placental
Biodiversity
- The variety of life on Earth; includes species, genetic, and ecological diversity
- Rainforests and coral reefs contain the greatest concentration and variety of plant and animals.
Diversity Types
- Species diversity: The variety of species, specifically how many there are (richness), and their abundance relative to each other (evenness)
- Genetic diversity: The heritable variation among individuals of a single population or within the species as a whole
- Ecological diversity: The variety within an ecosystem's structure, including many communities, habitats, niches, and trophic levels
Natural Selection
- Natural Selection: The process of adaptation and change
- Evolution: The process is the mechanism that can lead to Evolution
- Natural selection → Evolution → Diversity on Earth
- Mechanism for evolution published by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace
- Rests on 3 propositions
- There is variation among organisms
- Some of that variation is heritable
- Variants may have different levels of reproductive fitness
- Variants that enhance survival and reproductive fitness of individuals within a species will become dominant
- Darwin and Wallace were the ones who put all the pieces together
Adaptation
- An anatomical structure, physiological process, or behavioural trait evolved by natural selection
- Improves an organism's ability to survive and to leave descendants
Key Terms
- Species: Groups of actually or potential interbreeding natural populations genetically isolated from other groups by one or more reproductively isolating mechanisms
- Taxonomy: The theory and practice of naming and classifying organisms
- Biodiversity: The variety of life on Earth; includes species, genetic, and ecological diversity
- Species diversity: The variety of species, including how many are present (richness) and their abundance relative to each other (evenness)
- Genetic diversity: The heritable variation among individuals of a single population or within the species as a whole
- Ecological diversity: The variety within an ecosystem's structure, including many communities, habitats, niches, and trophic levels
- Natural selection: The process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change, driving the evolution and diversity on Earth
Summary of Concepts
- Biodiversity = The variety of life, including species, genetic and ecosystem diversity
- Taxonomy helps describe species and their relationships
- Natural selection has driven the diversity of life
- Humans can utilize selection to select species traits for their own purposes
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore how formal systems describe life's variety, leading to terms like species, biodiversity, and taxonomy. Learn about the definition of species and Carl Linnaeus's contribution to taxonomy. Includes the Linnaean taxonomy, also known as binomial nomenclature.
