SCIENCE 9-2 PBLRonnie, Hollie, Reise, and Heather.

Part A- Diversity What does biodiversity mean?Variety of species and ecosystems on earthand the ecological process of which they aremade. Explain the 5 components of biodiversity 1. Community diversity: population of differentspecies living within a community2. Species diversity: there are many variationsof particular species3. Genetic diversity: there is a genetic orvariety material in all living things4. Ecosystem diversity: there are many differenttypes of ecosystems, such as marshes, lakes,streams, and forests.5. Species distribution diversity: plant andanimal species are not evenly distributedthroughout the various ecosystems on earth

What area of the earth do we find the most diversity

The tropical rain forests and close tothe equator because of the heat and nutrition. Why are coral reefs called “the

amazons of the ocean”?It’s called the Amazon of the oceanbecause it’s the most diverse part ofoceans and round the equator What does interdependence mean?Interdependence: when other speciesdepend on the other species What is the most important

example of interdependence found in nature?

Food webs and food chains

The Coral Reefs-

Part A- Continued What is symbiosis and explain 3

different types of it. (example of each)- Symbiosis: the relationship between twodifferent species.1. Mutualism: when both species

benefit. ex:bee’s and flowers. Bees get nectar from

theflowers to make honey, and the flowers getpollinated2. Parasitism: when one benefits and theother gets harmed. ex: apes and bugs. TheApes get a source of food and get cleanedand the bugs die.3. Commensalism: one benefits and theOther does get harmed or benefits. ex:birds nest in a tree. Birds get to makehomes to lay their eggs and the treeprovides for them and the tree neither getsharmed or benefits.

What is a niche?A niche is described as the role of anorganism in the ecosystem. It has to dowith, what it eats, what eats it, habit,nesting sites, etc. Why are niches important?Niches are important, because they allowspecies to exist in the same location. Do niches stay the same?No, they may change in their lifetime; theyCan change depending on theirenvironment and also as the organismsand species inter-relate.Niches environment. (Name an ecosystemand three organisms and name their niche.)Deer- its niche- eats bugs and berriesmaking them not over populate.Worms-its niche- it makes the ground softand fertilizes it so plants can grow.Birds- its niche- makes nest in trees andeats worms so they don’t over populate.

Ex, of Mutualism, Paratism, and Commonism

Part A- Continued Give two examples of how a niche

changes in its lifetime.1. A tree- how its niche changes- it starts out

as a small plant just giving oxygen, but as it grows in to habitat for small animals.

2. A flower- how its niche changes- its starts out as a seed and could be edible, but if its not eaten then it grows in to a plant and it gets pollinated and grows bigger.

What is resource partitioning and give an example to help explain this?

It happens when two or more speciesNiches overlap each other, they then figureout how to make there niche smaller so it isno longer a competition.Ex- when to monkeys eats the same fruit,one of the monkeys will eat at the top of thetrees and the other will eat at the bottom sotheir niches can co-exist.

What are two reasons that variability is important in an ecosystem?

It is important in case the environmentchanges, or if it changes often. If there isvariation between species then if theenvironment changes then that specieswill most likely be able to adapt. If theywere all the exact same then they wouldmost likely die, because they wouldn’t beable to adapt. Explain what Natural Selection is and

how it relates to variability.Natural selection is when nature selectswhich individuals to reproduce. It relates tovariability because if the animals are all thesame and a change happens in the

environment,they will all die. With the little changes in

species,some could live.

Part A- Continued Describe why variation is

important in helping organisms deal with change in the environment.

Variation is important with organismsbecause it allows animalsto survive in anenvironment. It’s also ahealthier environmentbecause of the differences.

Part B- What is natural selection and explain how

it relates to variation and dealing with change in the environment… why is it important?

Natural selection is when nature selectsindividuals. This relates to variation becausevariations are the little changes in species.Changes in the environment impact thesespecies. Some could die because they are notable to adapt, but the ones that change, willsurvive. Explain the differences between heritable

and non-heritable traits, & examples.Heritable traits are passed on from generationto generation, and passed on through sexualreproduction. Ex. Eye color, skin color, hairtype. Non- heritable traits are acquired orlearned, and are not passed on fromgeneration to generation. Ex. Artistic skills,playing an instrument.

Explain how environment can play a role in the development of characteristics, and examples on how environment changes them.

Some characteristics can be influenced by theenvironment. Ex. Change in color of your skinthrough the summer due to sun exposure

(suntanor burn). Height and weight influenced by diet,also. Explain the difference between discrete

and continuous variation, and examples.Discrete variation is an either/or characteristic(‘either’ this form ‘or’ that form). An example is

ifyour earlobes are attached or not. Continuous

iswhen there are many variations in

characteristics.An example is, shoe size, height, and weight

Part B- Continued Explain what asexual reproduction means

and explain the four types with examples. Asexual reproduction is when one parent andoffspring are identical. The parent makes anexact copy of itself. The four types are:- Binary Fission- only single celled organisms;

the cell splits into two. Examples are bacteria and algae.

- Budding- parent produces a bud which detaches and becomes self-sufficient. Examples are coral and yeast.

- Spore- spores are similar to seeds, and are produced by the division of cells in the parent. One parent may produce many spores. Each spore turns into a new individual identical to the parent. Examples are fungi and mold.

- Vegetative- the reproduction of a plant not involving a seed. This includes cuttings, runners, suckers and tubers. Examples are potatoes and strawberries.

Give a scientific explanation of sexual reproduction.

Sexual reproduction is the creation of a neworganism by combining the genetic material oftwo organisms. What special cells are involved in sexual

reproduction?The special cells involved in sexualreproduction are called gametes. Animals, what are the specialized cells

called that are involved in sexual reproduction and what do they produce when they combine? What is formed?

In animals, sexual reproduction involves malegametes called sperm cells, and female

gametescalled egg cells. They produce a zygote when

theycombine, which changes into an embryo. Theembryo develops into a multicellular organism.

Part B- Continued Briefly describe how sexual reproduction works

in plants. Use the proper names of the parts.- Sexual reproduction in plants involves gamete,

that in turn form a zygote, which then forms an embryo.

- Male gametes (pollen) move from anther to stigma. They then travel down the stigma to the ovule (female gamete). The male and female gametes = a zygote. Then finally an embryo. The embryo develops inside a seed, which helps protect it.

Briefly explain the three types of sexual reproduction in plants-

- Cross pollination- pollen from one plant combines with the ovule of another. Resulting in a plant not identical to either parent.

- Self pollination- pollen from same plant combines with ovule of same plant. Resulting in a plant identical to the parent(s)

- Artificial pollination- flowers/ plants are pollinated by man.

Give one major advantage and disadvantage of both sexual and asexual reproduction.

- Asexual:Advantage: Can produce many organisms fast,which would be an advantage in an environmentthat barely changes.Disadvantage: All individual organisms are thesame, which would be a disadvantage if theenvironment changes. They would all die.- Sexual:Advantage: Provides lots of variation. Disadvantage: It takes too much energy out of theplants/ animals, and it is a slow process. Theywon't produce many very fast. What are some examples of organisms that

can reproduce both asexually and sexually.Many plants, sponges, and yeasts can reproduceboth sexually and asexually. Aphids are a nonplant species that can reproduce both ways.