Praxis (5236) - Biology > 4A2 Organization of Living Things and Order in the Biosphere > Flashcards

4A2 Organization of Living Things and Order in the Biosphere Flashcards

Describe levels of organization within living organisms and the importance of cellular differentiation. Understand levels of organization within the biosphere and their roles in maintaining life on Earth. (52 cards)

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1
Q

What is the purpose of biological organization?

A

To help understand and study the complexity of life by organizing biological structures from the simplest (e.g., atoms) to the most complex (e.g., biosphere).

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2
Q

List the levels of biological organization from smallest to largest.

A

Atoms → Molecules → Cells → Tissues → Organs → Organ Systems → Organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biome → Biosphere

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3
Q

Define:

cells

A

The basic units of life.

All living organisms are composed of one or more cells, which carry out essential life processes such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction.

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4
Q

What is cell differentiation and why is it important?

A

The process by which unspecialized cells develop into specialized cells with distinct functions, enabling complex structures and systems in multicellular organisms.

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5
Q

When many cells with the same structure and function come together they form what?

A

Tissues

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6
Q

A collection of tissues creates what?

A

An organ

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7
Q

Define:

Organism

A
  • A living individual that can carry out all basic life processes.
  • It can be unicellular (like bacteria) or multicellular (like animals and plants).
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8
Q

Define:

Population

A

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place at the same time.

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9
Q

Define:

Community

A

Two or more populations of organisms living together.

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10
Q

Define:

Ecosystem

A

The collection of both living and non-living things in an area.

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11
Q

Define:

Biome

A

A large geographical region characterized by specific climate conditions, plant communities, and animal species.

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12
Q

What is the largest level of ecological organization?

A

The biosphere

Composed of all life on Earth.

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13
Q

Why are stem cells unique?

A

They can differentiate into any type of cell based on the needs of the body.

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14
Q

What are the 2 most common types of stem cells?

A
  • Embryonic stem cells
  • Adult stem cells
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15
Q

Where are stem cells found within the body?

A

Within various types of tissues.

This includes the brain, bone marrow, and liver.

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16
Q

What is a biome?

A

A regional area characterized by the plants, animals, and climate in that area.

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17
Q

Name the five primary biomes in the world.

A
  • Grassland
  • Desert
  • Forest
  • Aquatic biome
  • Tundra
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18
Q

Where are savannas located?

A

Near the equator.

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19
Q

What are the two types of temperate grasslands?

A
  • Prairies - contain tall grasses
  • Steppes - contain shorter grasses
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20
Q

What is the largest steppe in the world called?

A

The Eurasian steppe.

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21
Q

What are the three precipitation-based categories of savannas?

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A
  • Wet
  • Dry
  • Thornbush

Savannas are a type of grassland.

22
Q

What are some common animals found in savannas?

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A
  • Lions
  • Zebras
  • Cheetahs
  • Giraffes
  • Elephants
  • Vultures
23
Q

How much precipitation do temperate grasslands receive annually on average?

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A

10 to 20 inches

24
Q

What are the four main types of deserts?

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A
  • Hot and Dry
  • Semi-Arid
  • Coastal
  • Cold
25
What are the characteristics of **hot deserts**?
* Annual rainfall usually averages 6 inches per year. * Temperatures can range from 25 to 100°F. * Extreme hot deserts can have temperature ranges over 100°F. ## Footnote Typically located on the tropic of cancer and the tropic of Capricorn.
26
What are the characteristics of **semi-arid deserts**?
* Located in the Northern Hemisphere in areas such as Europe, North America, Russia, and northern Asia. * Summers are long with temperatures ranging from 69 to 80°F. * Winter for semi-arid deserts can be much cooler. * Usually experience up to 20 inches of rainfall yearly.
27
Where are **coastal deserts** found and what are their characteristics?
* Found on the western edges of continents between 20 degrees to 30 degrees latitude. * Have high humidity but experience little precipitation. * Summers range from 55 to 75°F and winters average 41°F.
28
Where are **cold deserts** found and what are their characteristics?
* Found in the Antarctic, Greenland, Northern and Western China, Turkestan, and Iran. * Temperatures average 28 to 39°F in the winter and 70 to 79°F in the summer. * Receive a large amount of snowfall and higher rainfall amounts, averaging 6 to 10 inches per year.
29
What is the **African savanna** and what are its characteristics?
* The African savanna is a tropical grassland spanning several African countries. It consists mainly of grasses with scattered trees and shrubs * Temperatures range from 68 to 77°F in the winter and 68 to 86°F in the summer. * Yearly precipitation levels average 40 to 60 inches.
30
What are the characteristics of **temperate deciduous rainforests?**
* Located in mid latitudes between polar and tropics. * Experience warm and wet summers and cold winters. * Rainfall averages 30 to 60 inches annually.
31
What are the characteristics of **tropical rainforests**?
* Located close to the equator. * Warm, humid, and moist receiving 80 to 400 inches of rainfall each year. * Temperatures average 70 to 85°F. * Contain the greatest species richness in the world.
32
What are the characteristics of **jungles**?
Jungles are **dense tropical forests** with thick undergrowth, usually occurring at rainforest edges or areas with light gaps. They often have **broken or lower canopies** compared to primary rainforests.
33
What are the characteristics of **Taiga/Boreal forests**?
* Coldest and driest climate of the forest biome categories. * Located in the northern hemisphere south of the Arctic Circle. * Most precipitation falls as snow. * Coniferous trees are endemic to the area.
34
What is the **difference** between Jungles and Rainforests?
* **Rainforests** have tall trees forming a closed canopy that blocks sunlight, making the forest floor dark and humid. * **Jungles** typically have less canopy cover and denser undergrowth due to more sunlight reaching the ground.
35
What are the **two main categories** of Aquatic Biomes?
* Freshwater * Marine
36
What are **aquatic biomes**?
Located in areas dominated by water, they are the largest of all biomes, covering almost 75% of Earth.
37
What defines **freshwater habitats**?
They have less than 1% salt in the water and include ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams.
38
What defines **marine habitats**?
They have a high concentration of salt in the water and include oceans and salty seas.
39
What are **coral reefs**?
They are located in the ocean and are considered a subtype of marine biomes. ## Footnote They are known for their enormous diversity of organisms.
40
What is the **tundra biome** characterized as?
A treeless polar desert, the coldest and harshest biome on Earth. ## Footnote Tundra biomes can be found in high latitudes in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, and Sub-Antarctic Islands.
41
What is **permafrost**?
Permanently frozen ground **beneath the surface soil**, characteristic of the tundra biome.
42
What are the **two categories** of tundra biomes?
* Arctic tundra * Alpine tundra
43
What animals can be found in the **arctic tundra**?
* arctic foxes * polar bears * gray wolves * snow geese * musk oxen
44
What are the characteristics of the **arctic tundra**?
The Arctic tundra covers about **one-fifth of Earth's land surface**. It lies above the tree line near the **North Pole** and experiences harsh temperatures as low as **-50°F**.
45
What are the characteristics of the **alpine tundra**?
* Found further away from the poles. * Experiences higher temperatures. * Has a wider range of precipitation than the arctic tundra.
46
What is the **difference** between an environment and an ecosystem?
* An **environment** is the surrounding area in which an organism lives, including both abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components. * An **ecosystem** includes these factors and emphasizes their interactions.
47
What are the **sub-disciplines** of ecology?
* Organismal ecology * Population ecology * Community ecology * Ecosystem ecology * Biosphere ecology
48
What is **organismal ecology** focused on?
Individual organisms and how they interact with their environment.
49
What does **population ecology** focus on?
A specific type of organism and identifies population trends, density, and abundance within a given area.
50
What does **community ecology** include?
Multiple species, focusing on the number, type, density, and abundance of organisms within a given area.
51
What does **ecosystem ecology** consider?
The interactions between organisms and the abiotic components of an area.
52
What is the focus of **biosphere ecology**?
All living organisms and all environments on the planet.
Praxis (5236) - Biology
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