3.7 - Components of Biodiversity

Question 1

Biodiversity

Answer 1

Total variation that exists among all living things on Earth in the varying ecosystems found.

Question 2

Factors Measured

Answer 2

• Genetic diversity
• Ecosystem diversity
• Species diversity

Question 3

Genetic Diversity

Answer 3

The number and frequency of all the alleles possessed by members of the species or population.

If one population dies out then the species loses some of its genetic diversity. This may limit the species’ ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Question 4

Species Diversity

Answer 4

The number of species in an area an dhow even they are in population size.

Question 5

Measuring Species Diversity

Answer 5

Species diversity is measured using:
1. Species richness: Number of different species
2. Relative abundance: Proportion of members of each species

A community with a dominant species has a lower species diversity than one with the same species richness but a higher relative abundance.

Question 6

Ecosystem Diversity

Answer 6

Number of distinct ecosystems within a defined area.