4.2 Biodiversity Flashcards
Define biodiversity
A measure of the variation found in the living world
Define habitat
Where an organism lives
Define species
A group or organisms that can freely interbreed to produced fertile offspring
Advantages and disadvantages of random sampling
Not biased
Not all areas covered equally
What is opportunistic sampling?
Desicions made of prior knowledge
Easy and quick
Biased
What is stratified sampling?
Dividing and sampling different areas
Species not underrepresented
Over representation
What is systematic sampling?
Fixed intervals across habitat
Good for clear gradient
Some might be missed (only species on the line are measured)
What is used to measure percentage cover?
Point frame
What is used to collect animals from a net?
Pooter
What can you use to catch small animals?
A pitfall trap, bucket in hole in soil with water in bottom
What do you use to collect small animals from leaf litter?
A tullgren funnel, light shines on funnel and this causes leaves to dry and warm
animals drive down through funnel into a collecting jar
What is a longworth trap?
For small animals, small metal box with food inside
Formula for total population?
(C1 x C2)/C3
C1= number captured on first catch
C2= number captured on second time
C3 = number of animals caught on second occasion that were ALSO caught on the first one and marked
Define allele
Version of a gene
Define locus
Position of that gene on a chromosome
Define polymorphic gene locus
A locus that has more than two alleles
Define Simpsons index of biodiversity
Measure of the diversity of a habitat
What is species evenness
A measure of how evenly represented the species are
What is species richness
A measure of how many different species are present
What does a high value of Simpsons diversity index indicate?
Diverse habitat
Define climate change
Significant long lasting changes in weather patterns
Define monoculture
A crop consisting of one strain of one species
Define keystone species
One that has a disproportionate effect upon its environment relative to its abundance
Define soil depletion
Loss of soil fertility caused my removal of materials by continuous cropping
Economic reasons to maintain biodiversity
Crop pollination Medicine Purify fresh water Regulate atmosphere Reducing soil depletion Recycling nutrients
Define conservation in situ
Carrying out active management to maintain the biodiversity in the natural environment
What does CITES stand for
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Characteristics on continuous variation
Within a range
Not in categories
Genes and environment
Has to be measured
Two causes of variation
Environmental change
Gene mutation
Aims of CITES
- Regulate trade of selected species
- Trade does not put wild populations at risk
- No commercial trade in wild plants
- Only artificially propagated plants can be traded
- Allowing trade in less endangered species
Rio Convention on Biological Diversity aims
- Share genetic resources
- Share access to scientific knowledge
- Promoting ex with conservation methods
- Raising profile of biodiversity with public bodies
- International cooperation
Criteria of EIA
Size
Environmental sensitivity
Potential damage
Strategy to minimise damage
What is EIA
Environmental impact assessment
Why are plants stored as seeds?
- Collected with minimal damage
- Take little space
- Greater diversity
- Maintenance costs
- Cheaper transport
- Viable for long periods
- Less susceptible to disease
Explain mark and recapture method
Capture sample and mark C1 Release and leave another trap C2 = newly trapped C3 = trapped twice Use (1x2)/3
What is genetic erosion?
Selecting specific breeds
Loss of variety
Reduces genetic diversity
What are the principles of choosing a wildlife reserve ?
- Comprehensiveness (how many species and conditions)
- Adequacy (is it large enough)
- Representativeness ( is there a full range of diversity?)
How have conservation zones caused conflict?
Protected animals coming out of reserve to raid crops
People continue to hunt
Illegal plant harvesting
Tourists feeding and leaving litter
Advantages of in situ
Natural environments
Scientific research
Restoring ecological integrity
Management
Disadvantages of in situ
Area may not be large enough to ensure survival
May have already lost diversity
Bad conditions may still be present
Can attract poachers or tourists
Disadvantages of ex situ
Limited emetic diversity Outside habitat Diseases Not behave as normal Expensive Reintroduction
Problems with seed banks
People not willing to sponsor
Collecting seeds causes disturbance
May not represent level of diversity
Length of time may not be viable
Aims of Countryside Stewardship scheme
- Improve beauty and diversity of countryside
- Enhance habitats
- Improve opportunities for public access
What is the environmental stewardship scheme?
Funding to farmers effective management of land
Looking after habitats
Protecting historic features
Ensuring traditional livestock and crops conserved
People to visit
Measurement of genetic diversity
Calculating the percentage of loci in the population that have more than one allele
Three types of biodiversity
- habitat biodiversity
- species biodiversity
- genetic biodiversity
Examples of habitat biodiversity
- sand dunes
- woodland
- meadows
- streams
Examples of species biodiversity
species richness and species eveness
Examples of genetic biodiversity
Different breeds within a species
Three types of non-random sampling
opportunistic
stratified
systematic
What does ACFOR stand for?
Abundant Common Frequent Occasional Rare
What is a pooter?
Jar with two straws
One goes in your mouth
SUCK IT UP
How do you get insects from a tree?
Put a sheet under tree and beat it
What does Simpsons index of diversity take into account?
Both species richness and species eveness
What is n in Simpsons index of biodiversity?
number of individuals of a particular species/ percentage cover
What is N in Simpsons index of biodiversity?
total number of individuals of all species/ total percentage cover
When is there more genetic diversity?
When there is more than one allele for a particular locus
Equation for calculating genetic diversity
(loci with more than one allele/ total loci) x 100
What affects biodiversity?
- human population growth
- agriculture (monoculture)
- climate change
Ecological reasons for biodiversity
- protecting keystone species and interdependence of organisms
- maintaining genetic resource (solutions to climate change and some medicines)
Reasons overall for biodiversity
ecological
economic
aesthetic
How do monocultures reduce biodiversity?
- only one crop
- no variation
- use of pesticides and fertilisers = insect/animal free environment
Examples of in situ conservation
marine conservation zones and wildlife reserves
Examples of ex situ conservation
seed banks
botanic gardens
zoos
Define marine conservation zones
areas of the sea set aside to conserve the diversity of species and habitats
Define wildlife reserves
areas set aside for the conservation of species or habitats
Ways of conserving in situ
- LEGISLATION (making certain activities illegal, hunting poaching, logging)
- WILDLIFE RESERVES
How do zoos help biodiversity?
- captive breeding
- freezing sperm, eggs and embryos
- artificial insemination
- IVF
- embryo transfer
Disadvantages of zoos
- exposure to diseases
- out of natural habitat (abnormal behaviour)
- limited genetic diversity
- reproduction = difficult
- reintroduction
- expensive to maintain
Explain how seeds are stored in seed banks
- very dry/ freezing temperatures
- tested at regular intervals for viability
- more than one of each kind are stored
Define species evenness (exam question)
the relative abundance of each species in an area
