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APES Chapter 4 Reading Guide

Last updated over 3 years ago
30 questions

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

Keystone species: