18. Classification, Biodiversity and Conservation
Start with Concept to understand a topic, then use Question Bank to check what you know.
Your progress
Sign in to see your mastery and mistakes.
18.1 Classification
18.1.1Species concepts
• Species concepts: biological, morphological, ecological
18.1.2Three domains
• Three domains: Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya
18.1.3Archaea and Bacteria as prokaryotes
• Archaea and Bacteria as prokaryotes: differences in membrane lipids, ribosomal RNA, cell wall composition
18.1.4Eukarya domain taxonomic hierarchy
• Eukarya domain taxonomic hierarchy: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
18.1.5Characteristic features of kingdoms
• Characteristic features of kingdoms: Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
18.1.6Virus classification
• Virus classification: nucleic acid type (RNA/DNA), single/double stranded
18.2 Biodiversity
18.2.1Ecology terms
• Terms: ecosystem, niche
18.2.2Levels of biodiversity assessment
• Biodiversity assessment levels: - Number and range of ecosystems and habitats - Number of species and relative abundance - Genetic variation within species
18.2.3Importance of random sampling
• Importance of random sampling
18.2.4Methods to assess distribution and abundance
• Methods to assess distribution and abundance: frame quadrats, line transects, belt transects, mark-release-recapture (Lincoln index)
18.2.5Spearman's and Pearson's correlation
• Spearman's rank correlation and Pearson's linear correlation: analyse relationships between variables, biotic/abiotic factors
18.2.6Simpson's index of diversity (D)
• Simpson's index of diversity (D): calculate biodiversity, significance of values
18.3 Conservation
18.3.1Extinction causes
• Extinction causes: - Climate change - Competition - Hunting by humans - Habitat degradation and loss
18.3.2Reasons to maintain biodiversity
• Reasons to maintain biodiversity
18.3.3Ex situ and protected-area conservation
• Conservation roles: zoos, botanic gardens, conserved areas (national/marine parks), 'frozen zoos', seed banks
18.3.4Assisted reproduction in endangered mammals
• Assisted reproduction in endangered mammals: IVF, embryo transfer, surrogacy
18.3.5Invasive alien species
• Reasons for controlling invasive alien species
18.3.6Conservation organisations
• Conservation organisations: IUCN, CITES