What is Biodiversity? Why is it important?
Generalist species
The Biodiversity found in genes, species,
ecosystems, , and ecosystem processes is vital to
sustaining life on earth.
How does the earth's life change over time?
The scientific theory of evolution explains
how life on earth changes over time through
changes in the genes of populations. Populations
evolve when genes mutate and give some
individuals genetic traits that enhance their abilities
to survive and to produce offspring with these traits
(natural selection)
What is natural selection?
Populations evolve when genes mutate and
give some individuals genetic traits that enhance
their abilities to survive and to produce offspring
with these traits
How do geological processes and climate
change affect evolution?
Tectonic plate movements, volcanic
eruptions, earthquakes, and climate change have
shifted wildlife habits, wiped out large numbers of
species, and created opportunities for the evolution
of new species
How do speciation, extinction, and human
activities affect biodiversity?
As environmental conditions change, the
balance between the formation of new species and
the extinction of existing species determines the
earth's biodiversity. Human activities are decreasing
biodiversity by causing the extinction of many
species and by destroying or degrading habitats
needed for the development of new species
Species diversity &why is it important
Species diversity is a major component of
biodiversity and tends to increase the sustainability
of some ecosystems.
Roles species play in an ecosystem
Each species plays a specific ecological role
called its niche. Any given species may play one or
two more of five important roles -native, nonnative,
indicator, keystone, or foundation -in a particular
ecosystem..
Ecological niche
A pattern of living/role in the ecosystem.
Everything that affects survival and reproduction
(water, space, sunlight, food, temperatures)
Broad niche: wide range of tolerance (in
terms of the way that food consumption is for each).
Specialist species
Narrow niche: narrow range of tolerance compared
to a generalist..
5 different roles in an ecosystem
Native, non – native, indicator, keystone,
foundation
What is a non - native species?
An invasive species
Example of a nonnative species
Species brought in by ships/bottom of ships
Indicator species
A species that tells you that something is
about the environment (good or bad).
Keystone species
A group of species that are dependent on a
particular species.
Examples of an indicator species
Trout, Birds, Dragonflies/Butterflies,
Amphibians, Salamanders, red-backed amphibians
and Frogs
Why amphibians would be indicator species
Because of the pH change in soils and
because of acid rain
Keystone species
Roles that have a large effect on the types &
abundances of other species, pollinators and top
predators (like the American alligator)
Foundation species
Species that create or enhance their
habitats, which benefit others, elephants and
beavers (drastic change in habitats)
Example of Biological Evolution
Sloths are observable genetically in
changing with populations over time when it comes
to fossils
In Biological Taxonomy, what is the theory and
practice of classifying organisms?
Kingdom, Phylum, Order, Class, Family,
Genus, Species
What is the epithet of the word Homosapiens? Generalist Species
SAPIENS Species with a broad ecological niche

What is the genus of the word Homosapiens? Specialist Species

Homo Species with a narrow ecological niche

What is an important aspect about Biological Native Species

Taxonomy? Species that have naturally evolved in the
It views relationships of everything around area
the world.
Nonnative Species
Why is Charles Darwin important? Species that are moved to a ecosystem (by
He was a large contributor to Natural accident or by migration)
Selection
Exotic Species
What is Darwinian Evolution? Species that are unintentionally moved to a
Natural Selection and Adaptation ecosystem

In terms of Darwinian Evolution, what is natural Alien Species

selection? Exotic species
Individuals with certain traits are more likely
to survive & reproduce (fitness) under a certain set Indicator Species
of environmental conditions. Species that can be used as warnings to tell
the growth/decay of a ecosystem
In terms of Darwinian Evolution, what is
adaptation? Keystone Species
Leads to differential reproduction A species that influences the survival of
other species.
What are some examples of Non-Darwinian
Evolution? Competition
Genetic Mutation, Gene Flow and Genetic Organisms fighting each other over
Drift biotic/abiotic factors in an environment

What is Genetic Mutation? Ecology

Random changes in DNA molecules The study of interactions among organisms

What is gene flow? Organism

Occurs when individuals immigrate into or An animal, plant, or single-called life form
emigrate from a population. Allele frequencies may
change when gene flow occurs. Population
A group of organisms of the same species in
What is Genetic Drift do? an area
Causes allele frequencies to change
randomly. Antiquities Act
An act in order to prevent the looting of
Limiting Factor archaeological and Native American items and
Environmental conditions that limit the structures
growth of a species
Interspecific competition
Coevolution competition between members of different
When 2 species influence each other during species
evolution
predation
An interaction in which one organism kills
another for food.

parasitism
A relationship between two organisms of
different species where one benefits and the other
is harmed

mutualism
A relationship between two species in which
both species benefit

commensalism
A relationship between two organisms of
different species where one benefits and the other
is neither harmed nor benefited

Resource partitioning
The division of environmental resources by
coexisting species such that the niche of each
species differs by one or more significant factors
from the niches of all coexisting species

Predator
An animal that hunts other animals for food
Prey
An organism that is killed and eaten by
another organism
Camouflage
The hiding of something as a result of its
appearance
Coevolution
Process by which two species evolve in
response to changes in each other
Ecological succession
gradual change in living communities that
follows a disturbance
Primary ecological succession
involves the gradual establishment of biotic
communities in lifeless areas where there is no soil
in a terrestrial ecosystem or no bottom sediment in
an aquatic one. Ex.: on a newly formed island.

Secondary ecological succession

ecological succession in an area in which
which natural vegetation has been removed or
destroyed but the soil or bottom sediment has not
been destroyed.

Symbiosis
a relationship in which two different
organisms live in close association with each other