APES Chapter 4 Reading Guide

Core Case Study

1

List the 3 reasons why scientists argue that we should care if amphibians become extinct.

4-1 What is Biodiversity and Why is it Important?

1

How many species have scientists identified?

1

Where do up to half of the world’s land-based plant and animal species live?

Biodiversity includes 4 components: species diversity, genetic diversity, ecosystem diversity, and functional diversity. Briefly explain each.

1

Species diversity:

1

Genetic diversity:

1

Ecosystem diversity:

1

Functional diversity:

4-2 How Does the Earth’s Life Change over Time?

1

Evolution by natural selection was proposed by which two scientists?

1

Briefly explain the concept of natural selection.

1

True or False. Individuals evolve by becoming genetically different.

1

Explain your answer to the previous question.

1

Evolutionary biologists attribute the success of the human species to three adaptations. What are they?

1

How do evolution experts define “fitness”? In other words, what do they mean by “survival of the fittest”?

1

Why is it erroneous to say that organisms developed certain traits because they needed them?

4-3 How Do Geological Processes and Climate Change Affect Evolution?

1

The fact that tectonic plates drift has had two important effects on the evolution and distribution of life on earth. What are they?

4-4 How Do Speciation, Extinction, and Human Activities Affect Biodiversity?

1

How do new species form for sexually reproducing organisms? What is the most common way this speciation occurs?

1

When environmental conditions change dramatically or rapidly, a population of a species faces three possible futures, which are:

1

Why are endemic species more likely to face extinction?

1

Differentiate between background extinction rate and mass extinction.

1

Evidence shows that mass extinctions have been followed by an increase in species diversity over several million years. Explain this phenomenon.

4-5 What is Species Diversity and Why Is It Important?

1

Explain the difference between species richness and species evenness.

1

What is the relationship between species richness and proximity to the equator or poles?

1

True or False. Species-rich ecosystems are more stable.

1

Explain your answer to the question above.

4-6 What Roles Do Species Play in Ecosystems?

1

Define the terms generalist species and specialist species. Give examples of each.

1

Is it better to be a generalist or a specialist? Why?

1

What is the major factor that makes the giant panda a specialist?

Give examples of nonnative, indicator and keystone species. Explain why those organisms are examples of those categories.

1

Nonnative species:

1

Indicator species:

1

APES Chapter 4 Reading Guide

Core Case Study

List the 3 reasons why scientists argue that we should care if amphibians become extinct.

4-1 What is Biodiversity and Why is it Important?

How many species have scientists identified?

Where do up to half of the world’s land-based plant and animal species live?

Species diversity:

Genetic diversity:

Ecosystem diversity:

Functional diversity:

4-2 How Does the Earth’s Life Change over Time?

Evolution by natural selection was proposed by which two scientists?

Briefly explain the concept of natural selection.

True or False. Individuals evolve by becoming genetically different.

Explain your answer to the previous question.

Evolutionary biologists attribute the success of the human species to three adaptations. What are they?

How do evolution experts define “fitness”? In other words, what do they mean by “survival of the fittest”?

Why is it erroneous to say that organisms developed certain traits because they needed them?

4-3 How Do Geological Processes and Climate Change Affect Evolution?

The fact that tectonic plates drift has had two important effects on the evolution and distribution of life on earth. What are they?

4-4 How Do Speciation, Extinction, and Human Activities Affect Biodiversity?

How do new species form for sexually reproducing organisms? What is the most common way this speciation occurs?

When environmental conditions change dramatically or rapidly, a population of a species faces three possible futures, which are:

Why are endemic species more likely to face extinction?

Differentiate between background extinction rate and mass extinction.

Evidence shows that mass extinctions have been followed by an increase in species diversity over several million years. Explain this phenomenon.

4-5 What is Species Diversity and Why Is It Important?

Explain the difference between species richness and species evenness.

What is the relationship between species richness and proximity to the equator or poles?

True or False. Species-rich ecosystems are more stable.

Explain your answer to the question above.

4-6 What Roles Do Species Play in Ecosystems?

Define the terms generalist species and specialist species. Give examples of each.

Is it better to be a generalist or a specialist? Why?

What is the major factor that makes the giant panda a specialist?

Nonnative species:

Indicator species:

Keystone species:

Core Case Study

List the 3 reasons why scientists argue that we should care if amphibians become extinct.

4-1 What is Biodiversity and Why is it Important?

How many species have scientists identified?

Where do up to half of the world’s land-based plant and animal species live?

Species diversity:

Genetic diversity:

Ecosystem diversity:

Functional diversity:

4-2 How Does the Earth’s Life Change over Time?

Evolution by natural selection was proposed by which two scientists?

Briefly explain the concept of natural selection.

True or False. Individuals evolve by becoming genetically different.

Explain your answer to the previous question.

Evolutionary biologists attribute the success of the human species to three adaptations. What are they?

How do evolution experts define “fitness”? In other words, what do they mean by “survival of the fittest”?

Why is it erroneous to say that organisms developed certain traits because they needed them?

4-3 How Do Geological Processes and Climate Change Affect Evolution?

The fact that tectonic plates drift has had two important effects on the evolution and distribution of life on earth. What are they?

4-4 How Do Speciation, Extinction, and Human Activities Affect Biodiversity?

How do new species form for sexually reproducing organisms? What is the most common way this speciation occurs?

When environmental conditions change dramatically or rapidly, a population of a species faces three possible futures, which are:

Why are endemic species more likely to face extinction?

Differentiate between background extinction rate and mass extinction.

Evidence shows that mass extinctions have been followed by an increase in species diversity over several million years. Explain this phenomenon.

4-5 What is Species Diversity and Why Is It Important?

Explain the difference between species richness and species evenness.

What is the relationship between species richness and proximity to the equator or poles?

True or False. Species-rich ecosystems are more stable.

Explain your answer to the question above.

4-6 What Roles Do Species Play in Ecosystems?

Define the terms generalist species and specialist species. Give examples of each.

Is it better to be a generalist or a specialist? Why?

What is the major factor that makes the giant panda a specialist?

Nonnative species:

Indicator species:

Keystone species: