Biological Diversity Study Guide
Concept Review:
Biological Diversity (page 9)
Diversity Between Ecosystems (page 9)
Diversity Within Ecosystems (page 10)
Diversity Within Species (page 11)
Species Distribution (page 11) –greatest biological diversity on earth (tropical
regions) and in the ocean (coral reefs)
Classifying Biological Diversity (page 12)
Interdependence (pages 16 & 17)- know symbiosis (definitionscommensalism, mutualism, parasitism, and examples of each)
Niches (pages 18 & 19) – know definition, interspecies competition, and
resource partitioning
Variability (pages 20 & 21)- why is it important to survival?
Natural Selection (page 24) – definition and examples
Difference between Heritable & Non-Heritable Characteristics and examples
(page 28)
Difference between Discrete and Continuous Variation and examples (page
28)
How do environmental factors influence variation? (page 29)
Asexual Reproduction, including binary fission, budding, spore production,
vegetative reproduction-cuttings, runners, tubers (bulbs), and suckers (pages
30 & 31)
Sexual Reproduction in animals and plants, including gametes (sperm and
egg), fertilization, zygotes, cleavage, pollen, stamen, ovules, pistil, pollination,
anther, stigma, cross-pollination, cross fertilization, style, and ovary. Know
the difference between male and female parts of the plant (pages 32 & 33)
Know the advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual reproduction
(page 35)
Organisms that Reproduce both Sexually and Asexually (page 35)
What is DNA? (page 40)
What is the Genetic Code? Know G, C, A, T and important discoveries and the
scientists that made them (page 41)
What are chromosomes, and how many do humans have? Remember that
chromosomes and genes come in pairs. Remember that “genetic disorders”
refer to missing or “too many” chromosomes (pages 41 & 42)
What are genes and alleles? (pages 43 & 45)
Know the major differences and purposes of meiosis and mitosis (pages 46 &
47)
Patterns of Inheritance- know the difference between purebred and hybrid,
dominant and recessive traits, and incomplete dominance (pages 50-53)
Know how environmental factors can have an effect on individuals even
though their DNA may be “normal” (54)
Definitions and difference between extinction and extirpation; know some
examples of extinct and extirpated organisms (pages 58 & 59)
What is overspecialization? How does it affect biological diversity? (page 60)
Know the human causes of extinctions and extirpation including habitat
destruction, introduction of non-native species, and overhunting (pages 61 &
62)
What are the effects of extinctions and extirpations? (page 65)
Know how human beings use technology to select desirable traits in
organisms- including the definition of artificial selection, biotechnology,
creating plant clones, artificial reproductive technology, artificial
insemination, in vitro fertilization
(pages 66-68)
What is genetic engineering and how is it used? (page 68)
What are the possible negative consequences of biotechnology in plants and
animals? (page 69 & 70)
What are some of the ways Canada and other countries are trying to maintain
biological diversity for the future? (page 72)
Know the strategies scientists and governments are using to try and conserve
biological diversity, including protected areas, In-situ conservation,
restoration of ecosystems and species, resource use policies (know
COSEWIC), controlling the spread of exotic species, conservation of genetic
resources, and Ex-situ conservation (pages 72-76)
Begin by reading the Unit Summary on page 80 in your
text.