Characteristics of Life
This characteristic refers to an organism keeping internal conditions stable (e.g., body temperature, pH). Name it.
Homeostasis
One basic human need supplied by biodiversity: clean ___.
water
Which level of biodiversity describes the number and kinds of species in a location?
Species diversity
H in the HIPP0 mnemonic stands for this threat to biodiversity
Habitat loss.
A single-celled bacterium divides to make two identical cells. Which characteristic of life does this demonstrate?
Reproduction (cellular division); also growth and development.
Name two agricultural services that biodiversity provides that support food production
Pollination and nutrient cycling (also seed dispersal, pest control, water purification).
Which level refers to the variety of genes present in a population?
Genetic diversity.
What does the first P stand for in HIPP0, and give one example of its effect on an ecosystem.
Pollution — e.g., fertilizer runoff into a pond increases algae, reducing oxygen and killing fish.
Describe, in one sentence, how metabolism supports growth and development in living organisms.
Metabolism encompasses chemical reactions that convert nutrients to energy and building blocks, enabling cells to grow and tissues to develop.
Explain how biodiversity contributes to resilience against disease (one clear mechanism)
Greater species variety lowers the chance that a single pathogen will wipe out entire communities because some species carry resistance or provide complementary functions
Give an example of ecosystem diversity found within Ontario (one sentence).
Example: Mixed deciduous-coniferous forest vs. wetland vs. agricultural field within Ontario — each is a different ecosystem type
Describe how invasive species (I) can reduce native species' populations; give a specific mechanism.
Invasive species can outcompete natives for resources, introduce novel pathogens, or alter habitat (e.g., zebra mussels filter plankton, depriving native species)
Give an example of a stimulus and explain how a multicellular organism might respond to it (include the characteristic of life in your answer).
Example: Light increases on a plant (stimulus); it orients leaves toward the light and increases photosynthesis (response to stimuli). (Student answers may vary.)
Describe how forests contribute to climate regulation and name the process involved.
Forests store carbon through photosynthesis and as biomass, reducing atmospheric CO2 and moderating climate
Explain how genetic diversity within a species can affect its long-term survival when the environment changes.
Greater genetic diversity means a higher probability some individuals carry alleles that confer tolerance to new stresses (e.g., drought), enabling adaptation and persistence.
Explain how human population growth (second P) can indirectly increase the risk of species extinction (include one concrete example).
Population growth increases land conversion for housing and agriculture; e.g., expanding suburbs fragment forests, isolating populations and reducing viable habitat
Explain why having all six characteristics is required to classify something as living, and use viruses as an example of why an entity might be debated as living.
All six characteristics together show autonomous organization and function; viruses can replicate only inside host cells (they lack independent metabolism and cellular structure), so they are often classified as non-living or at the edge of life.
Provide a short argument (2–3 sentences) linking biodiversity loss to reduced availability of medicines for humans.
Many pharmaceuticals are derived from natural compounds in plants, fungi, and microbes; losing species reduces the pool of potential medicinal discoveries.
Devise a classroom microinvestigation (1–2 sentences) that would let students compare species diversity between two local habitats (state the data you'd collect).
Compare species richness and abundance in a nearby pond vs. a meadow by surveying and counting plant and insect species along transects; collect species counts and abiotic measures (soil moisture, light).
Provide an example from the lesson text and ask: State an example and ask what threat to biodiversity is being described.
Example: "A wetland is drained to build a housing development, removing habitat for amphibians and many plants." What threat is being described?
Habitat loss (wetland drained for development).