Species Concepts and Ecosystems

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Questions and Answers

What is the main purpose of botanic gardens?

To provide entertainment through plant exhibitions

To facilitate international trade of plant seeds

To serve as safe havens for threatened plant species (correct)

To sell rare plant species to collectors

What is stored in seed banks to maintain genetic diversity?

Seeds collected from various plant species (correct)

Embryos and sperm of endangered species

Only seeds of food crops

Live plants collected from the wild

Why might IVF be used in captive breeding programs?

To stimulate natural reproduction in all animals

To assist species that do not reproduce easily in captivity (correct)

To reduce the genetic diversity among a species

To make it easier to transport live animals

What specialized method does a seed bank in Norway use?

Permafrost for storing seeds Signup and view all the answers

What procedure is performed to increase the number of eggs a female produces for IVF?

Hormonal administration Signup and view all the answers

What defines organisms as being part of the same species according to the biological species concept?

They can reproduce and produce fertile offspring. Signup and view all the answers

Which species concept is particularly useful for classifying extinct organisms?

Morphological species concept Signup and view all the answers

Under the ecological species concept, when can two organisms be classified as the same species?

If they occupy exactly the same ecological niche. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key limitation of the biological species concept?

It is less applicable to asexual organisms. Signup and view all the answers

Which example best illustrates the limitations of the morphological species concept?

Different species of insects that look similar. Signup and view all the answers

What is the best definition of biodiversity?

The variety of ecosystems, habitats, species, and genotypes in an area. Signup and view all the answers

What does a niche define in an ecosystem?

The role of a species within its ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

What is species richness?

The number of different species in an area Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT typically associated with extinction events?

Natural habitat preservation Signup and view all the answers

Why is maintaining biodiversity important for ecosystems?

It ensures the survival of various species within that ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

What is a common consequence of habitat degradation?

An increase in the population of invasive species Signup and view all the answers

What sampling technique can help measure species abundance along a specific line?

Belt transects Signup and view all the answers

What is a major human-induced factor contributing to global warming?

Deforestation for agricultural land Signup and view all the answers

In what scenario might a species become extinct due to competition?

When an alien species out-competes it for resources Signup and view all the answers

How can the introduction of invasive species negatively impact an ecosystem?

By out-competing native species for resources Signup and view all the answers

What could potentially lead to a mass extinction event?

Rapid changes in environmental conditions due to human activity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following demonstrates a benefit of biodiversity to humans?

Potential sources of medicinal compounds from plants Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Species Concepts: Defining Species

Several concepts define species, not a single definition
Biological Species Concept: Organisms are the same species if they can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Lions are the same species, but a lion and a tiger hybrid (liger) is infertile, so they are separate species. Difficult to apply to asexual or extinct organisms.
Morphological Species Concept: Organisms share identical physical features. Useful for asexual or extinct organisms. Can be problematic because different species may look similar.
Ecological Species Concept: Organisms occupy the same ecological niche. More similar organisms are more likely to occupy the same niche, but even if similar, species do not completely overlap, with subtle niche differences preventing overlap.

Ecosystems and Niches

Ecosystem: An interacting system of living and non-living entities in a defined area. The community of organisms and their environment
Biodiversity: Variety of ecosystems, habitats, species, and genotypes in a specific area.
Niche: A species' role in an ecosystem. Includes nutrition, food web position, habitat interaction, and effects on other organisms.

Biodiversity Assessment

Species richness: Number of different species in an area. Higher richness implies higher biodiversity.
Distribution and abundance: Quantifying species locations and numbers. Sampling often used.
Random sampling techniques: Crucial for unbiased biodiversity measurements (e.g., using random coordinates from an app).

Measuring Biodiversity: Sampling Techniques

Line transects: Measure species abundance along a designated line (e.g., beach edge to top). Quadrats placed at set intervals along the line.
Belt transects: Measure species abundance at every point along the line. Quadrats placed in succession or by recording touching organisms.

Extinction

Mass extinctions: Periods with large numbers of species disappearing. Dinosaurs' extinction around 66 million years ago is an example.
Causes of extinction: Climate change, competition, habitat loss, human activity.

Maintaining Biodiversity: Reasons and Threats

Stability of ecosystems: Loss of species impacts ecosystem health.
Benefits to humans: Biodiversity provides resources & economic advantages (e.g., medicines, tourism).
Threats to biodiversity: Human activities are major drivers.
- Greenhouse gases: Increased global warming from fossil fuels.
- Human population growth: Increased resource demand leads to habitat loss.
- Pollution: Heavy metals, acidic gases, phosphates reduce species' chances of survival.
- Invasive species: Introduced organisms that potentially threaten native species through competition, predation, or habitat change (e.g., possums in New Zealand).

Conservation Tools and Methods

Botanic gardens: Plant conservation centers similar to zoos, involved in breeding, reintroduction, education, and research.
"Frozen zoos" / Cryopreservation: Preserving embryos, sperm, eggs, and tissue samples in liquid nitrogen for future use. Maintains genetic diversity.
Seed banks: Storing seeds for long-term plant conservation. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and a permafrost seed bank are examples.
Assisted reproduction (e.g., IVF): Speeding up animal reproduction in zoos to increase populations. IVF is in vitro fertilization, using frozen samples for genetic diversity and ease of transportation.

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Description

This quiz explores various species concepts including the Biological, Morphological, and Ecological Species Concepts. It also delves into the definition of ecosystems and the importance of ecological niches in understanding species interactions. Test your knowledge on these fundamental topics in biology.