3.3 Biodiversity

Question 1

Define species diversity

Answer 1

The number of species and the number of individuals of each species within any one community

Question 2

Define genetic diversity

Answer 2

Number of different alleles within a gene pool

Question 3

Define ecosystem diversity

Answer 3

Range of different habitats within a particular area

Question 4

What are the two main ways that species diversity is measured

Answer 4

1-Species richness
2-Relative abundance

Question 5

Define species richness

Answer 5

Number of different species within an area

Question 6

Define relative abundance

Answer 6

The number of individuals per species

Question 7

What is endemism

Answer 7

When a species is unique to a single place

Question 8

What formula would you use to measure biodiversity

Answer 8

N(N-1)/∑n(n-1)

Question 9

Define a gene pool

Answer 9

All the genes within a population

Question 10

Define ecosystem services

Answer 10

Services which are provided by the environment that are of benefit to people

Question 11

What are some ethical reasons for maintaining biodiversity

Answer 11

1-Destroying natural resources is unethical as it prevents the opportunity for future generations to use these renewable resources
2-Human activities have the potential to cause mass extinctions through climate change and this s regarded as unethical.

Question 12

What are economic reasons for preserving biodiversity

Answer 12

Provisioning
Regulating
Supporting
Cultural

Question 13

Describe provisioning

Answer 13

Ecosystems may provide us with provisions such as fuel, building materials, fibres for clothing. Therefore meaning a higher biodiversity provides a larger potential of these services being provided.

Question 14

Describe regulating

Answer 14

Ecosystem processes help regulate our environment such as water purification, waste management.

Question 15

Describe supporting

Answer 15

High biodiversity ecosystems provide support for other ecosystems we need. For eg, soil formation and nutrient cycling are essential for growing crops

Question 16

Describe cultural services

Answer 16

A biodiverse and healthy ecosystem can often attract a

Question 17

What is meant by conservation

Answer 17

Protecting and keeping a living and changing environment

Question 18

Describe ex-situ conservation

Answer 18

Ex-situ is the conservation of components of biodiversity outside of their habitats

Question 19

How is ex-situ conservation achieved ?

Answer 19

SEED banks and captive breeding programs provided by zoos.

Question 20

What are the issues with seed banks?

Answer 20

Some plant seeds are too large for seed banks and they must be stored in field gene banks which take alot longer to grow and take alot of space.

Question 21

What is captive breeding

Answer 21

Individuals are bred in zoos with the aim they can be reintroduced into the wild to restore populations

Question 22

What are some issues with captive breeding

Answer 22

1-Having space and sufficient resources for all endangered species
2-Animals may not adjust to environment in the wild after being bred in captivity.

Question 23

What is meant by niche

Answer 23

The role of a species within a ecosystem

Question 24

Why are seed banks beneficial

Answer 24

-Takes up less space
-Higher biodiversity due to large amount of seeds
-Can be preserved for a long amount of time

Question 25

How are breeding programs at zoos are designed to reduce the risk of inbreeding

Answer 25

-Selection of unrelated / genetically different mates
-Use of studbooks to keep record of mating
-Exchange of animals between zoos
-Exchange of gametes between zoos