1 Biodiversity and Endemism

Question 1

Biodiversity (2)

Answer 1

• a measure of the variety of living organisms and thier genetic differences
• examples= difference between individuals in a species, between populations of the same species, between communities and between ecosystems

Question 2

Why is biodiversity important? (4)

Answer 2

• rich biodiversity allows large-scale ecosystems to function and self-regulate
• if biodiversity is reduced in one area, natural balance can be destroyed elsewhere
• biodiversity provides the genetic variation that has allowed us to develop crops, livestock and forests
• enables further improvement by cross-breeding and genetic engineering

Question 3

species richness

Answer 3

number of different species in an area

Question 4

How can biodiversity be measured? (3)

Answer 4

• species richness
• relative species abundance
• endemism

Question 5

endemism

Answer 5

• another important way of measuring biodiversity

Question 6

endemic

Answer 6

a species that evolves in geographical isolation and is found only in one place

Question 7

reasons why one area may have a very rich biodiversity (3)

Answer 7

• stable ecosystem allows many complex relationships to develop between species
• high levels of productivity can support more niches
• when organisms grow and reproduce rapidly, it is more likely that mutations occur, leading to adaptations which allow organisms to exploit more niches