ESs note
Chapter 4 – Conservation and biodiversity
Definitions:
Species: A group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring e.g. horses and donkeys
Population: A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time, and which are capable of interbreeding
Biodiversity: The amount of biological or living diversity per unit area. It includes the concepts of species diversity, habitat diversity and genetic diversity.
Species diversity: Both the range and number of organisms found in a single place or habitat – how many species and how many of each
Genetic diversity: Range of genetic material present in a species or a population, the gene pool. Domestication and plant breeding lead to a loss of genetic variety, hence the importance of “gene banks”
Habitat diversity: The number of different habitats per unit area that a particular ecosystem or biome contains. It is associated with the variety of niches that may be exploited by different species. Conservation of habitat diversity usually leads to the conservation of species and genetic diversity
Fitness: The ability for an individual to survive and make babies in order to pass on his/her genetic information to the next generation
Geographical isolation: When population of 1 species separated by a geographical barrier (mountains, water or hostile environment) cannot interbreed, each develops its own variations. Eventually two separate species develop in response to different selection pressures
Reproductive isolation: Evolutionary changes to the appearance of behavior may results in males and females of those population no longer being attracted to each other and therefore not breeding together. The exchange of genes through reproduction may slow, eventually stop, and different species may arise
Definitions:
Species: A group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring e.g. horses and donkeys
Population: A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time, and which are capable of interbreeding
Biodiversity: The amount of biological or living diversity per unit area. It includes the concepts of species diversity, habitat diversity and genetic diversity.
Species diversity: Both the range and number of organisms found in a single place or habitat – how many species and how many of each
Genetic diversity: Range of genetic material present in a species or a population, the gene pool. Domestication and plant breeding lead to a loss of genetic variety, hence the importance of “gene banks”
Habitat diversity: The number of different habitats per unit area that a particular ecosystem or biome contains. It is associated with the variety of niches that may be exploited by different species. Conservation of habitat diversity usually leads to the conservation of species and genetic diversity
Fitness: The ability for an individual to survive and make babies in order to pass on his/her genetic information to the next generation
Geographical isolation: When population of 1 species separated by a geographical barrier (mountains, water or hostile environment) cannot interbreed, each develops its own variations. Eventually two separate species develop in response to different selection pressures
Reproductive isolation: Evolutionary changes to the appearance of behavior may results in males and females of those population no longer being attracted to each other and therefore not breeding together. The exchange of genes through reproduction may slow, eventually stop, and different species may arise