Key Questions in Biodiversity

A Study and Revision Guide

Paul A. Rees

• Publisher: CAB International
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781789248630
• eBook ISBN: 9781789248654
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Ecology
• Index: Biological Sciences

An understanding of biodiversity is an important requirement of a wide range of programmes of study including biology, zoology, wildlife conservation and environmental science. This book is a study and revision guide for students following such programmes in which biodiversity is an important component. It contains 600 multiple-choice questions (and answers) set at three levels - foundation, intermediate and advanced - and grouped into 10 major topic areas: 1. Principles of classification and taxonomy 2. Comparative anatomy and physiology3. Protoctists, monerans, fungi, lichens and acellular organisms4. 'Lower' plants and pteridophytes 5. Seed-bearing plants6. Sponges, cnidarians, nematodes and minor animal phyla7. Platyhelminths, annelids and molluscs8. Arthropods and echinoderms9. Fishes, amphibians and reptiles10. Birds and mammalsThe book has been produced in a convenient format so that it can be used at any time in any place. It allows the reader to learn and revise the meaning of terms used in animal and plant classification, the principles of comparative physiology, and the characteristics of, and diversity in, the major animal and plant taxa. The structure of the book allows the study of one topic area or group of taxa at a time, progressing through simple questions to those that are more demanding. Many of the questions require students to use their knowledge to identify organisms and biological structures from drawings or photographs.

1 Principles of Classification and Taxonomy

This chapter contains questions on the classification and taxonomy of living things and its history along with questions on some important historical figures and their publications.

Foundation

1.1f Carl Linnaeus published his binomial system of classification in his

a. Origin of Species

b. History of Animals

c. Systema Naturae

d. Generelle Morphologie der Organismen

1.2f Which of the following is not a taxon in zoology?

a. Canidae

b. Cervus

c. Diptera

d. Invertebrates

1.3f Which of the following plant groups has most extant species?

a. Angiosperms

b. Pteridophytes

c. Gymnosperms

d. Bryophytes

1.4f Elephas maximus maximus is an example of a

a. binomial name

b. vernacular name

c. trinomial name

d. generic name

1.5f A herbarium is

a. an alternative name for a botanical garden

b. a collection of preserved plant specimens used for identification and scientific study

c. a collection of herbaceous plants

d. a place where plant seeds are frozen and stored

1.6f In the scientific name of an organism, when can the specific name begin with a capital letter?

a. Only when it is based on the name of a person

b. Only when it is based on the name of a country

c. Only when it is based on the name of a person or a country

d. Never

1.7f Which of the lists of vernacular terms in Table 1.1 are alternatives for the platyhelminths, annelids and nematodes?

Table 1.1

Taxon	A	B	C	D
Platyhelminthes	Segmented worms	Flatworms	Roundworms	Flatworms
Annelida	Roundworms	Roundworms	Flatworms	Segmented worms
Nematoda	Flatworms	Segmented worms	Segmented worms	Roundworms

a. A

b. B

c. C

d. D

1.8f A biologist is using a key to identify an insect. At each stage in the process the key asks a question to which there can only be two possible answers, for example, ‘Does the insect have wings? This is known as a

a. dichotomous key

b. bifurcating key

c. bilateral key

d. dyadic key

1.9f Which of the following subspecies of tiger was the first to be discovered and de...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Dedication
• About the Author
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• How to Use This Book
• 1. Principles of Classification and Taxonomy
• 2. Comparative Anatomy and Physiology
• 3. Protoctists, Monerans, Fungi, Lichens and Acellular Organisms
• 4. ‘Lower’ Plants and Pteridophytes
• 5. Seed-bearing Plants
• 6. Sponges, Cnidarians, Nematodes and Minor Animal Phyla
• 7. Platyhelminths, Annelids and Molluscs
• 8. Arthropods and Echinoderms
• 9. Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles
• 10. Birds and Mammals
• 11. Answers
• References
• Back Cover