4.2 - Biodiversity

Question 1

Definition of Biodiversity?

Answer 1

• The range of living organisms found

Question 2

Three things that biodiversity is made up off?

Answer 2

• Habitat biodiversity: Number of different habitats in an area.
• Species: Number of different species in an area - We use a dichotomous key.
• Genetic Diversity - Variety of genes within each species.

Question 3

Ecological reasons to conserve biodiversity?

Answer 3

• Ecological;
  High biodiversity means stable ecosystems.
  Organisms can feed on each other without food chains collapsing
  Nutrients are recycled via decay
  Souls remain fertile to grow plants
  Plants provide oxygen for aerobic respiration.
  Insects pollinate plants

Question 4

Economic reasons to conserve biodiversity?

Answer 4

• High biodiversity means areas can have ecotourism, it provides natural resources such as timber, cotton, wool, silk, leather.
• Biodiverse areas may also be a source of new medicines for medical research.
• Wood is a source of fuel.

Question 5

Social reasons to conserve biodiversity?

Answer 5

• Ethical reasons to conserve organisms as all organisms have a right to survive.
• High biodiversity improves aesthetics of a landscape.
• Can be used as recreation which reduce stress.

Question 6

Explain the importance of sampling in measuring the biodiversity of a habitat? (2)

Answer 6

• Difficult to count every individual.
• Sample provides estimate.
• Sample representative of whole area.

Question 7

Explain the difference between species richness and species and why both measurements are needed to access biodiversity? (3)

Answer 7

Species richness: Number of species in a habitat.
Species evenness: Abundance of each species in a habitat.

Both species evenness and richness are needed to reveal dominance.

High species richness and evenness means a high biodiversity.

Question 8

Outline significance of a low Simpson Index of biodiversity?

Answer 8

Habitat is dominated by one species and is less likely to cope with change.

Question 9

Suggest one reason why people might object to reintroduction of lynx into Europe?

Answer 9

-May be danger to humans/ Local wildlife, environment may no be suitable for lynx.

Question 10

Define Phylogeny?

Answer 10

Phylogeny is the evolutionary relationship between species and is the bases of classification.