4.2.1 Biodiversity Flashcards

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1
Q

Define ecosystem

A

All the interacting living organisms and non-living conditions in an area

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2
Q

Define community

A

all the populations of living species in a particular habitat at a particular time

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3
Q

Define habitat

A

An area that a particular species lives in

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4
Q

Define species

A

The smallest similar group of organisms able to reproduce to give fertile offspring.

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5
Q

Define population

A

All the individuals of one species living in a specific area at a specific time.

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6
Q

Define biodiversity

A

the variety of living species in an area
Range of habitats

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7
Q

Define habitat diversity

A

The number of different habitats in an area

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8
Q

Define genetic diversity

A

the variety of alleles within a species

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9
Q

Define species diversity

A

the number of different species found in an area and the abundance of each species

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10
Q

What are the 3 levels of biodiversity?

A

Habitat
Species
Genetic

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11
Q

What are 3 examples of different habitats?

A

Desiduous woodland
Fen
Lake

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12
Q

Define biotic factor

A

the living components in an ecosystem

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13
Q

Give examples of biotic factors

A

predation
parasites
species
population size

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14
Q

Define abiotic factor

A

the non-living components in an ecosystem

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15
Q

Give examples of abiotic factors

A

pH
soil nutrients
climate
rainfall volume
temperature range
light intensity

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16
Q

Define sampling

A

taking measurements of a limited number of individual organisms or locations within a larger population or area

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17
Q

Why is sampling important?

A

whole population/ too large to collect data from
samples are quicker + cheaper and can provide good estimates for entire populations

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18
Q

What are the two usual ways to take a sample?

A

Random sampling
Non- random sampling

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19
Q

What is random sampling?

A
  • selecting individuals/locations to be samples by chance
  • ensures each individuals/locations has equal (=) likelihood of being in the sample
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20
Q

What is non-randomly sampling?

A
  • sampling when there is some method to the individuals/locations being sampled
  • each individual or location does not have equal likelihood of being in the sample
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21
Q

Describe method of random sampling an area

A
  1. place 2 tape measures at 90 degree angle to eachother
  2. use a random number generator to create coordinates
  3. place centre of the quadrat at coordinate
  4. count relevant organisms in the quadrat
  5. repeat as many times as possible
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22
Q

Name the 3 main techniques of non- random sampling and describe them

A
  1. OPPORTUNISTIC - samples chosen by investigator, simple to carry out, biased
  2. STRATIFIED - population divided into groups and a sample taken from each group proportional to its size
  3. SYSTEMATIC - samples taken at fixed intervals often along a line (transect) sections of area identified and sampled separately
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23
Q

Define frame quadrat

A

a square, rigid structure of fixed size used to identify an area to be sampled. usually divided into a grid of equal sections

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24
Q

Define point quadrat

A
  • frame containing horizontal bar
  • at set intervals along the bar long pins pushed through bar to reach the ground
  • each species of plant the pin touches is recorded
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25
Q

Define line transect

A

mark out a line along the ground between two poles and record the location and type of each species that touches the line.

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26
Q

Define belt transect

A

two parallel lines are marked and samples are taken of the area between the two lines

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27
Q

Define interrupted belt transect

A

sampling using a frame quadrat at specific intervals along a line transect

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28
Q

Method to sample an area using an interrupted belt transect

A
  1. mark a line along the ground between 2 poles
  2. at regular intervals place a frame quadrat against the line
  3. take a sample
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29
Q

When would random sampling would be appropiate?

A
  • large area of the same type
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30
Q

When would systematic sampling be appropriate?

A
  • to look for change across an area
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31
Q

What are 5 ways to sample animals? Describe them

A
  1. POOTER - small insecets - sucked into chamber
  2. SWEEP NETS - catch insects in long grass
  3. PITFALL TRAPS- catch small crawling invertebrates -
    hole dug in ground deep enough that they cannot crawl out
    put in a jar
    covered so doesnt fill with rain water
    left overnight so nocturnal animals fall in
  4. TREE BEATING - sample animals living in tree/bush
    large sheet under tree
    tree shaken and animals fall onto sheet
  5. KICK SAMPLING - sample organisms in river
    river bed ‘kicked’ to move substrate
    net held downstream to collect dislodged creatures
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32
Q

What are 2 ways to sample plants/very slow animals?

A

quadrats - point or frame

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33
Q

What are 3 ways to colect data using a frame quadrat?

A

Percentage Cover - estimate the percentage of the quadrat area that is covered by the organism
Density - counting number of individuals to give a number per m^2
Frequency - count the number of small divisions the species is present in - if quadrat divided into 100 small squares and organis present in 65 of them = 65%

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34
Q

Name and state the equipment used to measure 6 abiotic factors

A

wind speed - anemometer
light intensity - light meter
relative humidity - humidity sensor
pH - pH probe
Temperature - temperature probe
oxygen content in water - dissolved oxygen probe

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35
Q

Explain why a temperature probe linked to a data logger may be advantageous over the use of a thermometer when investigaring factors affecting the abundance of distribution of organisms in an area

A

-can record rapid changes
- high precision measurements with reduced chance of human error

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36
Q

What are 2 ways to measure species biodiversity?

A

Species richness
Species evenness

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37
Q

What is species richness?

A
  • the number of different species in an area
  • higher the number = greater species richness
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38
Q

What is species evenness?

A
  • the number of individuals of a species in an area
  • more similiar population size of each species = greater species evenness
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39
Q

How can the population size of animals be estimated?

A

capture - mark - release - recapture method

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40
Q

How can the population size of plants be estimated?

A

Samples taken with quadrats to find average per m^2
–> multiply by total area = population size

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41
Q

How does measuring species diversity lets us get information about the stability of an ecosystem/degree of pollution?

A

Stable ecosystem = high biodiversity w/ lots of species + even + large population sizes

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42
Q

How is species diversity measured?

A

Simpson’s Index of diversity
(D)

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43
Q

What two factors does simpsons index of diversity take into account?

A

Species richness
Species evenness

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44
Q

What do each of the symbols in Simpsons equation mean?
D = 1–Σ [(n/N)2]

A

Σ = sum of
n = total number of organisms for a single species

N = total number of organisms of all species

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45
Q

What numbers can Simpsons index be between?

A

0 and 1

46
Q

What does 0 on simpsons index of diversity show?

A

0 = no biodiversity

47
Q

What does 1 on simpsons index of diversity show?

A

closer to 1= more diverse habitat

48
Q

What are typical features of a habitat with low biodiversity?

A
  • few successful species
  • extreme conditions few ecological niches
  • few species w/ specific adaptations
  • relatively simple food webs
  • change has major effects on ecosystem
49
Q

What are typical features of a habitat with high biodiversity?

A
  • many successful species
  • benign conditions many ecological niches
  • many species w/ few specific adaptations
  • complex food webs
  • change has small effects on ecosystem
50
Q

Why does a high genetic biodiversity increase species chance of long term survival?

A

Greater genetic biodiversity = more likely to survive a change in environment + continue reproducing

have advantageous allele - adapted to change

51
Q

What are 2 ways to increase genetic biodiversity

A
  • interbreeding between populations
  • mutations in DNA
52
Q

How does interbreeding between populations
increase genetic biodiversity?

A

transfers alleles between populations - gene flow

53
Q

How does mutations in DNA
increase genetic biodiversity?

A

mutations in DNA creates more alleles

54
Q

What are 6 factors that can cause a decrease in genetic diversity?

A

-selective breeding
-captive breeding
-rare breeds
-artificial cloning
-natural selection
-the founder effect
-genetic drift
-genetic bottlenecks

55
Q

How does selective breeding decrease genetic biodiversity?

A

specific alleles are selected, reduces number of possible alleles within a population

56
Q

How does captive breeding decrease genetic diversity?

A

there is only a small number of individuals available for breeding

57
Q

How does artifical cloning decrease genetic diversity?

A

artifical cloning = asexual reproduction
- no genetic variation/mutations

58
Q

How does natural selection decrease genetic diversity?

A

species evolve to contain primarily the alleles which code for advantageous characteristics

59
Q

Why do captive breeding programmes in zoos have low genetic biodiversity?

A

there are a small number of individuals so limited number of different alleles

60
Q

Define polymorphic in terms of genes

A

genes with different possible alleles

61
Q

Define locus in terms of genes

A

the position of a gene on a chromosome

62
Q

What is the equation to measure genetic diversity?

A

proportion of polymorphic gene loci =
(number of polymorphic gene loci / total number of loci)

63
Q

Between which values can proportion of polymorphic gene loci be?
what does each value mean?

A

0 and 1
or converted to %
0 = no diversity
1= all genes polymorphic

64
Q

What are the 3 main factors affecting biodiversity that have come about from increased human population?

A

-Human population growth=

  • Increased agriculture
  • climate change
  • deforestation
65
Q

Describe th change in human population since 1800

A

now double that in 1960

7 x size in 1800

66
Q

Why is the human population increasing so rapidly?

A

Improvements in:
- medicine
- hygiene
- housing & infrastructure

67
Q

What are 4 ways on how deforestation affects biodiversity?

A
  • reduce number of trees
  • takes out one species leaving the rest
  • reduces number of animal species
  • animals forced to migrate - increaesd biodiversity in other areas
68
Q

What are 5 methods in agriculture which affects biodiversity?

A
  • deforestation
  • removing hedgerows
  • pesticides&herbicides
  • removing weeds - plants growing where they are unwanted + compete with crops
  • monoculture - (growing of a single variety of single crop)
  • animal biodiversity reduced as plant food sources removed
69
Q

Define global warming

A

a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earths atmosphere

70
Q

Define climate change

A

a change in global or regional climate patterns, like temperature and rainfall patterns

71
Q

Why is global warming happening?

A

greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of CO2, CFCs and other pollutants

72
Q

Why is climate change happening?

A

natural but humans speeding it up by:
- increased emissions of greenhouse gases e.g. CO2

73
Q

What is some evidence for climate change?

A
  • Increasing global average temperatures
  • warming trend ~2x of when 100 yrs ago
  • global ocean temperatures rising
  • more precipitation
  • reduced glaciers + ice caps
  • arctic temps increasing
  • sea levels rising
74
Q

How are human activities contributing to climate change?

A

CO2 production
CFCs

75
Q

What are 4 ways how climate change can affect biodiversity?

A
  • melting polar ice caps = affect organisms living there
  • rising sea levels = flood low lying land, salt water further up rivers
  • higher temps = less rainfall
  • insect lifecycles change = pollination affected
76
Q

What are 3 reasons to maintain biodiversity?

A

Aesthetic
Ecological
Economic

77
Q

Define Ecological in context of reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A

reasons concerning the potential impact on other species and whole ecosystems

78
Q

Define Economic in context of reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A

reasons involving people, communities or companies earning or making more money from the biodiversity in a sustainable way

79
Q

Define Aesthetic in context of reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A

reasons based around the beauty of nature and its ability to enrich lives and inspire people

80
Q

What are 3 aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

A
  • enriches lives = relaxation
  • inspiration to musicians, writers
  • patients recover better when surrounded by nature
81
Q

What are 8 economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

A
  • Soil depletion (bc of continuous monoculture) - more vulnerable to insects = more money on pesticides
  • raw materials - industry can collapse without them
  • losing species before medicine/chemicals discovered
  • soil erosion - reduce ability to grow crops - country dependant on others for resources
  • high biodiversity = protects against abiotic factors and disease
  • attractive areas = tourists = money
  • potential manufacture of new product in future
  • plant varieties needed for cross breeding to introduce new favourable characteristics
82
Q

What are 8 economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

A
  • Soil depletion (bc of continuous monoculture) - more vulnerable to insects = more money on pesticides
  • raw materials - industry can collapse without them
  • losing species before medicine/chemicals discovered
  • soil erosion - reduce ability to grow crops - country dependant on others for resources
  • high biodiversity = protects against abiotic factors and disease
  • attractive areas = tourists = money
  • potential manufacture of new product in future
  • plant varieties needed for cross breeding to introduce new favourable characteristics
83
Q

What are 2 ecological reasons for maintaining biodiversity ?

A
  • to protect keystone species
  • to maintain genetic resources (e.g. materials from plants,
    animals, microorganisms)
    food+drink, clothing (cotton), drugs, fuels, industrial
  • all organisms interdependant on others for survival
    loss of one species can have drastic effects on
    ecosystem e.g. food chain, disruption of nutrient cycles
84
Q

Define keystone species

A

species essential for maintaining biodiversity, they have a large effect on their environment relative to their abundance

85
Q

Why are keystone species important in maintaining biodiversity?

A

they affect many other organisms in the environment.
their removal would drastically effect species richness and evenness

86
Q

Give example of keystone species and how it effected the ecosystem?
(WOLF)

A
  • Wolf - keystone species in America
  • Eliminated in 20th century.
  • No wolves to hunt elk, elk population increased= overgrazing
  • overgrazing = loss of plant species
  • loss of species depending on those plants e.g. beavers + songbirds
87
Q

Define conservation

A

the maintenance of biodiversity

88
Q

Define In situ conservation

A

protecting a species within their natural habitat

“on site”

89
Q

Define Ex situ conservation

A

protecting a species out of their natural habitat

“off site”

90
Q

Name 2 methods of in situ conservation

A

Wildlife reserves
Marine conservation zones

91
Q

What are 7 methods of active management in wildlife reserves? (in situ)

A
  • Controlled grazing
  • Regulated human access
  • Controlling poaching
  • Feeding animals - help reach reproductive stage
  • Reintroduction of species
  • Culling or removing invasive species
  • Halting succession
92
Q

How do marine conservation zones help maintain biodiversity?
(in situ)

A
  • Ensure sustainable fishing
  • Provide areas where populations can grow/recover
93
Q

Name 3 methods of ex situ conservation

A
  • Botanical gardens
  • Seed bands
  • Captive breeding programmes
94
Q

How do botanical gardens help maintain biodiversity?

A

Plant species grown successfully with optimum conditions
= no extinction

95
Q

How do seed banks help maintain biodiversity?

A

Store seeds so species can be grown = preventing extiction

96
Q

Describe 3 ways zoos contribute to conservation

A
  • Captive breeding programmes - aim to build up healthy populations of species + Reintroduce them into wild
  • Carry out research to support conservation efforts elsewhere
  • Animals given food, water, shelter, absence od predators, vet care
97
Q

Explain how seed banks store the seeds?

A
  • dried
  • stored at -20°C
98
Q

Why do seed banks store seeds in those condition?

A

to maintain viable
- slows down loss of ability to germinate

99
Q

How do captive breeding programmes help maintain biodiversity?

A

aim to build up healthy populations of a species + reintroduce into wild - prevent extinction

100
Q

How do captive breeding programmes maintain/increase genetic diversity?

A
  • global catalogue kept of gentic information of individuals = most suitable matches can be made to maintain genetic diversity
  • artificial insemination + embryological techniques used to prevent animals having to be transported across the world
101
Q

Why is it not possible to release some captively bred organisms back into the wild?

A
  • diesease - captive populatins may not hav developed resistance to wild diseases
  • lack of learnt behaviour to survive
  • genetic races - captive population may be too genetically different to wild pop to interbreed
  • insufficient wild habitat remaining to support new individuals- habitat has to be replaced / or stress + competition will mean individuals fight for small number of resources
102
Q

State the full name of the IUCN

A

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

103
Q

What is the role of the IUCN?

A
  • involved in agreements between nations
  • publish red list each year of endangered species
  • involved in setting up CITES to regulate trade of endangered species across borders
104
Q

Name 2 international conventions that aim to protect biodiversity

A
  • The Rio Convention
  • Convention on international trade in endangered species
    (CITES)
105
Q

State the full name of the CITES

A

Convention on international trade in endangered species

106
Q

How does CITES help protect biodiversity?

A

Regulates trade in wild plants and animals across borders to prevent over-exploitation of certain species

107
Q

What were the 3 outcomes from the Rio convention 1992

A

leading to…
- The convention on biological diversity
- The united nations framework convention on climate change
- The united nations convention to combat desertification

108
Q

State the full name of the CBD

A

Convention on biological diversity

109
Q

How does the CBD help protect biodiversity?

A

National strategies for sustainable development

110
Q

Name a local scheme in England that aimed to protect biodiversity

A

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

111
Q

How did the Countryside Stewardship Scheme aim to protect biodiversity

A
  • offered governmental payments to farmers + land owners for:
    • sustaining beauty + diversity of landscape
    • improving, extending + creating wildlife habitats
    • restoring neglected land + conserving historical +
      archaeological features
    • improving opportunities for countryside employment
112
Q

Why is sampling important

A

whole population/ too large to collect data from
samples are quicker + cheaper and can provide good estimates for entire populations