4.2 - C - Biodiversity Flashcards
Define biodiversity
The range of habitats, the number of different species and their relative abundance, and the genetic diversity within a species within an area
What is a habitat?
The place where an organism lives
What is a species?
A group of organisms similar in appearance, physiology and genetics whose members are able to interbreed to produce fertile offspring
List and define the 3 types of biodiversity
Habitat biodiversity - the range of habitats in which different species live (within an area)
Species biodiversity - the number of different species living in a habitat (species richness) and their relative abundance (species evenness)
Genetic biodiversity - variation between individuals of the same species eg: breeds of dog
List the 4 types of sampling
Random Non-random: Opportunistic Stratified Systematic
Explain and evaluate opportunistic sampling
Prior knowledge of a site determines the sample site.
You may deliberately sample an area where you know an organism is present.
+ quicker than random sampling
- may introduce bias - could lead to overestimation of its abundance or biodiversity
Explain and evaluate stratified sampling
Separately sampling areas in a habitat which seems very different.
+ ensures all different areas in the habitat are sampled - ensures no under representation
- if too many samples are taken in small areas, it could lead to over-representation
Explain and evaluate systematic sampling
Samples are taken at regular, predetermined intervals across a habitat eg: belt or line transact
+ if there is a clear gradual change in an environmental factor across an environment, transects can show how species abundance changes and therefore the effect of the factor on the different plant species.
- species may be missed - not representative/underestimation
Define species evenness
The degree to which the species are represented
Define species richness
The number of species in the area
Explain how to use a quadrat
Place at your sample sites (random coordinates/points on transect)
Identify plants within the quadrat using a key
Measure the abundance of each species (and bare ground) by using the abundance scale or an estimate percentage cover
What is a quadrat?
A square frame used to define edges of a sample site
Define ACFOR and expand what it stands for
An anagram that measures abundance Abundant Common Frequent Obvious Rare
What is a negative of using ACFOR?
It isn’t based around quantitative data - subjective
Give an exam answer on sampling habitats regarding plants
Set grid/area to be sampled
Use belt transect to sample
Use 50cmx50cm quadrats
At regular 5m intervals ‐ systematic sampling
Identify plant species using keys
Record the presence/absence of sp. in each quadrat
Estimate the % cover of each species in your quadrat
Repeat this using several different transectsto show repeatability and identify anomalies
Extrapolate the data to estimate biodiversity in the entire habitat
List the 7 ways of trapping animals
Pond/sweep nets Poorer From trees Pitfall trap Tullgren funnel Light trap Longworth trap
Explain the type of animal/area pond/sweep nets trap and how they work
Water/low vegetation - catch small animals/insects
Sweep nets in arcs catch animals. They are identified and counted on a white background
Explain the type of animal/area pooters trap and how they work
Small animals/insects once caught with sweep nets/from trees
They suck up animals into a clear container to stop them flying off
Explain the type of animal/area from trees trap and how they work
Small animals/insects in trees
They hit tree branches with a stick to knock odd animals into a white tray/paper to identify and count
Explain the type of animal/area pitfall traps trap and how they work
Small animals/insects on the ground
The container is buried in soil - insects fall into it. Water or a chemical to stun them can be used to stop them crawling out. It should be sheltered in rain.
Explain the type of animal/area Tullgren funnels trap and how they work
Small insects/animals from leaf litter.
Leaf litter is placed on mesh, and a light dries it out - animals go down and fall through the mesh into a collecting jar
Explain the type of animal/area light traps trap and how they work
Insects attracted to light at night
UV light attracts insects which fall into alcohol in the trap
Explain the type of animal/area Longworth traps trap and how they work
For trapping small animals eg: mice
Bait is put in the trap and it snaps shut behind animals, leaving them unharmed. They can be marked, released and recaptured to estimate population size.
What is the purpose of the mark, release and recapture technique?
Allows you to estimate population size of a species.
Explain the method of the mark, release and recapture technique
Allows you to estimate population size of a species.
1. Capture sample of animals
2. mark them ‐ the total number captured = C1
3. Release animals
4. (re)trap/(re)capture another sample using the same method for
validity
Number captured = C2
Number recaptured = C3
5. Calculate total population = (C1 x C2)/C3
Suggest 3 species populations which could be estimated with mark, release, recapture
Mice, butterflies, birds
Suggest 2 considerations that are needed before carrying out mark,
release, recapture
Where and how the individuals will be marked ‐ this must not
cause harm
e.g. butterflies ‐ not on wings (flight), not on top of body (predation)
Suggest 1 limitation of mark, release, recapture
Some animals being trapped with Longworth traps may become ‘trap happy’ and learn that the trap gives them food and safety from predation and become more likely to return to traps ‐ gives overestimation of population size (data is not representative)
Give an exam answer on sampling habitats regarding animals
Set grid/area to be sampled
Use random numbers generated by a computer to locate the areas you will randomly sample
Pick appropriate capture method CHOSE ONE e.g. sweep nets, pooters, pitfalls etc
Identify each sp. using a key and count the numbers of each sp.
Repeat this several times in each habitat, using the same technique each time to show repeatability and identify anomalies
Extrapolate the data to estimate biodiversity in the entire habitat
Define allele/gene variant
A version of a gene