DRIVING QUESTION!
What is biological diversity, and by what
processes do diverse living things pass on
their characteristics to future generations?
What does biodiversity mean?
Biodiversity means different kinds of
species and ecosystems on earth and the
ecological processes they are part of.
Explain the 5 components of biodiversity?
 Ecosystem Diversity – there are many
different types of ecosystems, such as
marshes, lakes, streams and forests
 Community Diversity – populations
of different species living within a
community
 Species Diversity – there are many
variations within a particular species
5 Components of Biodiversity Cont’d
 Genetic Diversity – there is a
variety of genetic material in all
living things.
 Species Distribution Diversity –
plant and animal species are not
evenly distributed throughout
the various ecosystems on
earth.
What area of the Earth do we
find the most biodiversity?
We find the most biodiversity
in the Tropical Rainforests and
around the equator.
Why are coral reefs called “the Amazons of
the oceans?”
Coral reefs are called the “amazons
of the ocean” because, just like the
amazon rainforest, coral reefs are
extremely rich in species diversity.
What does interdependence mean?
Interdependence is when a species is
dependent on other species in it’s
environment
For example: humans depend on plants to get
nutrients and oxygen to survive.
What is an important example of
interdependence found in nature?
*Food chains and
food webs.
*Symbiosis
*When animals
depend on plants
to survive.
What is symbiosis and also explain the three
different types of symbiosis, making sure to
explain examples for each?
Symbiosis is a type of interdependence. It
is a relationship between two or more
different species
Types of symbiosis:
# 1: Commensalism – when one organism
benefits and the other doesn’t benefit or
loses. Ex. bird living in a tree; the bird gets a
home, and the tree is not effected.
Types of Symbiosis Cont’d
#2: Mutualism – when both organisms
benefit. Ex. when humans give carbon
dioxide to the plants while the plants
gives oxygen to the humans
#3: Parasitism – when one organism
benefits and the other is harmed. Ex.
tape worm and human; the worm gets
nutrients and food, while the human is
harmed because his organs are
damaged.
What is a niche?
A niche describes the
role of an organism in
the ecosystem: what it
eats, habitat, nesting
sites etc.
Why are niches important?
Niches allow organisms to exist in
the same place. If one species in the
ecosystem becomes extinct, all
other organisms are affected.
Give an example of an ecosystem and name
some animals that live in that ecosystem and
the niches they would fill.
A Canadian Boreal forest is an example of
an ecosystem. Some animals:
 A honey bee pollinates the flowers.
 The worms decompose decaying animal
and leaves.
 Foxes eat small rodents, insects and
berries found in it’s habitat.
 A raccoon’s niche is to eat and scavenge
through the leftovers from larger
carnivores.
Explain whether niches stay the same or
can change...if they change explain this.
Niches have the ability to change during a
species life which can be caused by
environmental changes or perhaps the species it
inter-relates with for survivability.
What are two ways a niche can change…give
a couple of examples to explain the two ways
niches can change?
A niche can change when there is too much or
too less competition, or when the resources
are more abundant or less abundant. For
example: when a seagull leaves it natural habitat
and transfers to a city-like area, it takes on the
role of scavenging trash.
--OR-When a rodent overpopulates a habitat, then a
predator takes the role of decreasing the
population of the rodent.
What is resource partitioning and give an
example to help explain this?
The process of species living in
the same ecosystem dividing up
resources so that each species
develops different resource
requirements to avoid
competition. Ex: Two species of
squirrels--one eats acorns from
the branches; one eats acorns
that have fallen.
What are two reasons that variability is
important in an ecosystem?
Variability is important in an
ecosystem because if there is an
environmental change then it is
more likely the species with the
most variability will survive.
Also, variability means that the
ecosystem is healthy and the
species there are stronger.
Explain what natural selection is and
how it relates to variability.
Natural selection is when nature chooses which
organisms will survive to reproduce. It relates to
variability because nature will choose the species
with the highest survival rate and variation. The
variation, or differences are what allow the species to
survive, and that is how natural selection relates to
variability.
Describe why variation is important
in the environment?
Variation is important in the
environment because it helps species
adapt, and survive and adapt.
If all animals were the same, they
would all be affected the same way. For
example: If a virus were to spread, then
all the animals would die because they
would be exactly the same.
If there is variation in an environment,
then it means that the environment is
healthy.
Explain the difference between heritable and
non-heritable traits and give some examples of
each.
Heritable traits are passed on from
generation to generation. Some
examples are eye color, hair type,
and skin color.
Non-heritable traits are acquired,
and are not passed on to other
generations. Some examples are
the ability to play an instrument, or
artificial change (such as dyeing
hair, painting nails).
Explain how environment can play a role in the
development of characteristics and give some examples
of how environment can affect characteristics.
Environment plays a role in the
development of characteristics
because it can affect and influence
in many ways. It can influence the
organism itself. The organism may
adapt to specific environmental
requirements, either itself, or by
natural selection of its descendants.
Some examples:
The sun can darken a person’s skin,
Nutrition and food can affect height,
weight, and size.
Explain the difference between discrete and
continuous variation and give some examples
of each.
Discrete variation refers to differences in
characteristics that have a defined form.
For example, a person either has black hair
or does not, or a lizard either has green
eyes or does not. It is an “either/or” form
of characteristic.
Continuous variation refers to differences
in characteristics that have a range of
forms. For example, the length of a
person’s hair can range, or a person’s
height can range from 1.2 m to 2.1 m.
Explain what asexual reproduction means and
explain the four types of asexual reproduction
with examples:
Asexual reproductions means that there is only
one parent, and the offspring are identical to
that parent because it makes a carbon copy of
itself. The different types are:
#1. Binary Fission: a cell splits exactly in two,
producing two identical individuals. For example:
bacteria, amoebas and algae reproduce by binary
fission.
Types of Asexual Reproduction Cont’d
#2. Budding: the parent produces a small bud, or a
smaller version of itself; in animals, the bud
eventually detaches. For example: yeast, and coral
reproduce like this.
#3. Spore Production: spores are produced by the
division of cells of the parent, and each spore
develops into an individual.
#4.Vegetative Reproduction: the reproduction of a
plant that doesn’t involve the formation of a seed.
For example: if you take a part of a plant and place
it separately, then the part grows roots and
develops into an individual plant. Tubers and bulbs
are also forms of vegetative reproduction.
Give a scientific explanation of sexual
reproduction
Sexual reproduction is when two individuals
combine genetic material and create a new
organism. The two main processes are meiosis and
fertilization.
Most species of animals and plants reproduce
sexually, and the reproduction also occurs in
species that do not any genders.
This kind of reproduction provides more variation,
and forms a healthier environment.
What special cells are involved in sexual
reproduction?
The special cells that are involved in sexual
reproduction are called sperms and eggs, and
are also known as gametes.
In animals, what are the specialized cells called
that are involved in sexual reproduction and
what do they produce when they combine?
What is formed next?
Spermatozoa and ovum are
involved in sexual reproduction
and they produce zygote when
combined. The zygote divides
mitotically and differentiates into
an embryo.
Briefly describe how sexual reproduction
works in plants.
Haploid gametes are produced through meiosis;
male cells are produced which are encapsulated in
a pollen grain, female cells form ovules held within
an ovary. Through the process of pollination, male
pollen grains are transferred to the stigma of a
receptive flower. The pollen grain germinates and a
pollen tube grows down the style and into the
ovary, where it releases the male gamete - this
then fuses with the ovule forming a diploid zygote.
Then after further mitosis develops into an
embryo. The embryo is encapsulated within a testa
and forms a seed as the ovary ripens to form the
fruit.
Briefly explain the three types of sexual
reproduction in plants.
a) Cross pollination occurs when pollen
from one plant combines with the ovule of
another plant. The resulting plants are not
identical to either parent.
b) If plants self-pollinate, pollen from same
plant unites with ovule of same plant, then
the resulting plants are identical to the
parents.
c) In artificial pollination, flowers are
pollinated by man.
Give one major advantage and disadvantage
of both sexual and asexual reproduction.
*Asexual reproduction: Advantage - Can produce many
organisms very quickly which is an advantage in an
environment that doesn’t change very much.
Disadvantage - All the individual organisms are the same
and if the environment changes, all the organisms will die
because there is not variation to allow some to adapt and
survive
*Sexual reproduction: Advantage - Provides lots of
variation helping it to survive when the environment
changes.
Disadvantage - The process of sexual reproduction takes
lots of energy, so populations tend to be smaller.
What are some examples of organisms that
can reproduce both asexually and sexually?
Many plants, sponges and yeasts can produce both
sexually and asexually. Aphids are non-plant species
that can reproduce both ways.
The Answer to the Driving Question:
Biodiversity is the variety of species and ecosystems
on earth, and the ecological processes of which they
are a part. Diverse living things pass on their
characteristics to future generations by
reproducing sexually and asexually.