3.1 Introduction to Biodiversity

Question 1

what is the nature of biodiversity consistency?

Answer 1

Biodiversity is not constant over
space or time

Question 2

what are the benefits of biodiversity?

Answer 2

Extrinsic value:
Source of all natural capital
The way chemical materials are cycled and purified

Intrinsic value:
Maintains genetic diversity
Research and educational opportunities.
Nature’s insurance policy against change

Question 3

what are some factors affecting biodiversity ?

Answer 3

Age of the area

Environmental stability

Range of habitats

Altitudinal variation

Latitude ranges

Variation in rocks and soil

Question 4

what two variables are the product of species diversity?

Answer 4

the number of species (richness) and their relative
proportions (evenness)

Question 5

what may be some features of areas with low biodiversity?

Answer 5

Be close to a source of
pollution.

Be affected by agricultural
spraying of herbicides.

Have been subject to
harvesting of some of the
species.

Be closer to human
habitation and so subject to
degradation.

Question 6

how many species are there?

Answer 6

1.75 million known

Many more unknown, 5 – 50 million or more

Question 7

how do you interpret the result to simpsons diversity index?

Answer 7

High values of “D” suggests a stable and ancient site

A low value of “D” could suggest pollution, recent colonization,
or agricultural management

Question 8

what is habitat diversity refering to?

Answer 8

Habitat diversity refers to the range of different habitats in an ecosystem or biome.

Question 9

what is the consequence of habitat diversity conservation?

Answer 9

If habitat diversity is conserved than this usually leads to the conservation of species and genetic diversity.

Question 10

what can lead to a habitat diversity?

Answer 10

Variety of forests, deserts, grasslands, lakes, oceans, coral reefs, wetlands, and other biological communities, elevation, climate, human manipulation.

Most important range of niches

High genetic diversity

More diverse species more genetic variation

Question 11

what is genetic diversity?

Answer 11

Is the total number of genetic characteristics of a
specific species within a population.

Question 12

why is genetic diversity curial for the survival of a spieces?

Answer 12

It promotes adaptability to changing environments, enhances resistance to diseases, and contributes to ecosystem stability by supporting various ecological roles.

Question 13

what is an example of poor spieces divertiy causing a loss of species?

Answer 13

Low genetic diversity and
resulting poor sperm quality
has made breeding and
survivorship difficult for
cheetahs. Moreover, only
about 5% of cheetahs survive
to adulthood

Question 14

why would we care about diversity?

Answer 14

Diverse ecosystems are more stable and more healthy

More resistant to damage from factors like climate change and
spread of disease

Biodiversity is useful to us as humans

Recreation

Food

Goods

Medicine

Photosynthesis

Pollination

Nutrient cycling

Moderation of weather extremes

Purification of air and water

Question 15

why is quanitification of biodiverity important?

Answer 15

Quantification of biodiversity is important to conservation efforts so that areas of high biodiversity may be identified, explored, and appropriate conservation put in place where possible.

Question 16

why are plants important to humans?

Answer 16

90% of food is crops

40% of all medicines and 85% of all antibiotics

Question 17

what is a biodiveity hotspot?

Answer 17

Biogeographic region that is both a significant reservoir of biodiversity and is under threat.

Contain large numbers of endemic species (species not found anywhere else), and so measures of biodiversity are essential in identifying areas that should be protected against damaging human activities.

Question 18

what are the qualifying factors for a biodiversity hotspot?

Answer 18

It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics

It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation. In other words, it must be threatened.

Question 19

how do we asses biodiversity hotspots?

Answer 19

the number of total species

the number of endemic species

the number of species at risk

Question 20

which biodiverity hotports are in particuallr need of conservation efforts?

Answer 20

rich in endemic plant and animal species (found nowhere else in the world)

Question 21

what are the conflicts over hotsports?

Answer 21

Focus on vascular plants and ignore animals.

Do not represent total species diversity or richness.

Focus on places that have already lost habitat, not those
that are losing it.

Do not consider genetic diversity.

Do not consider the value of services: e.g. water resources.

Question 22

why might some ares that have no human interfreance still have low biodiversity?

Answer 22

Important to understand that biodiversity of an area is
important, but it is also important to remember that
undisturbed, unpolluted sites may naturally have a low
diversity due to location and climate

Question 23

how do we understand ecosystems?

Answer 23

Scientific observations is a
search for patterns

Measurements means
numbers

Numbers mean quantitative
data

Patterns tells us ecosystems
current state (baseline) and
how they were in the past so
that we an more accurately
model their possible future

We can then use those
models to examine and
select conservation options