Biology Ecology and Evolution Flashcards
7 cards from real Biology Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Biology Ecology and Evolution flashcards as text
What does the term 'adaptive radiation' describe in evolutionary biology?
Answer: The rapid diversification of one ancestral species into many ecologically distinct species
Adaptive radiation is the rapid evolution of diverse species from a single ancestral lineage, each adapted to different ecological niches, as seen in Darwin's finches.
Which concept describes the variety of species, genetic diversity, and ecosystem types within a region?
Answer: Biodiversity
Biodiversity encompasses species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity, and is a key indicator of ecosystem health and resilience.
What is the significance of the bottleneck effect in population genetics?
Answer: It dramatically reduces genetic variation after a sharp population decline
A bottleneck event drastically reduces population size, leaving survivors with a non-representative subset of the original genetic variation, reducing overall diversity.
In the carbon cycle, which process releases CO₂ from organic compounds back into the atmosphere?
Answer: Cellular respiration
Cellular respiration in all living organisms breaks down organic molecules and releases CO₂ as a byproduct, returning carbon to the atmosphere.
What distinguishes K-selected species from r-selected species?
Answer: K-selected species produce few offspring with high parental investment
K-selected species invest heavily in fewer offspring, providing extensive parental care, and are adapted to stable environments near carrying capacity.
What is the purpose of a phylogenetic tree in evolutionary biology?
Answer: To illustrate the evolutionary relationships and common ancestry among species
Phylogenetic trees (cladograms) represent hypotheses about evolutionary relationships, showing how species share common ancestors and diverged over time.
Which abiotic factor most directly limits primary productivity in deep ocean ecosystems?
Answer: Light availability
Sunlight cannot penetrate into the deep ocean, making photosynthesis impossible and forcing deep-sea ecosystems to rely on chemosynthesis or sinking organic matter.