4.2.1 Biodiversity Flashcards
Define ecosystem
All the interacting living organisms and non-living conditions in an area
Define community
all the populations of living species in a particular habitat at a particular time
Define habitat
An area that a particular species lives in
Define species
The smallest similar group of organisms able to reproduce to give fertile offspring.
Define population
All the individuals of one species living in a specific area at a specific time.
Define biodiversity
the variety of living species in an area
Range of habitats
Define habitat diversity
The number of different habitats in an area
Define genetic diversity
the variety of alleles within a species
Define species diversity
the number of different species found in an area and the abundance of each species
What are the 3 levels of biodiversity?
Habitat
Species
Genetic
What are 3 examples of different habitats?
Desiduous woodland
Fen
Lake
Define biotic factor
the living components in an ecosystem
Give examples of biotic factors
predation
parasites
species
population size
Define abiotic factor
the non-living components in an ecosystem
Give examples of abiotic factors
pH
soil nutrients
climate
rainfall volume
temperature range
light intensity
Define sampling
taking measurements of a limited number of individual organisms or locations within a larger population or area
Why is sampling important?
whole population/ too large to collect data from
samples are quicker + cheaper and can provide good estimates for entire populations
What are the two usual ways to take a sample?
Random sampling
Non- random sampling
What is random sampling?
- selecting individuals/locations to be samples by chance
- ensures each individuals/locations has equal (=) likelihood of being in the sample
What is non-randomly sampling?
- 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
Describe method of random sampling an area
- place 2 tape measures at 90 degree angle to eachother
- use a random number generator to create coordinates
- place centre of the quadrat at coordinate
- count relevant organisms in the quadrat
- repeat as many times as possible
Name the 3 main techniques of non- random sampling and describe them
- OPPORTUNISTIC - samples chosen by investigator, simple to carry out, biased
- STRATIFIED - population divided into groups and a sample taken from each group proportional to its size
- SYSTEMATIC - samples taken at fixed intervals often along a line (transect) sections of area identified and sampled separately
Define frame quadrat
a square, rigid structure of fixed size used to identify an area to be sampled. usually divided into a grid of equal sections
Define point quadrat
- 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
Define line transect
mark out a line along the ground between two poles and record the location and type of each species that touches the line.
Define belt transect
two parallel lines are marked and samples are taken of the area between the two lines
Define interrupted belt transect
sampling using a frame quadrat at specific intervals along a line transect
Method to sample an area using an interrupted belt transect
- mark a line along the ground between 2 poles
- at regular intervals place a frame quadrat against the line
- take a sample
When would random sampling would be appropiate?
- large area of the same type
When would systematic sampling be appropriate?
- to look for change across an area
What are 5 ways to sample animals? Describe them
- POOTER - small insecets - sucked into chamber
- SWEEP NETS - catch insects in long grass
- 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 - TREE BEATING - sample animals living in tree/bush
large sheet under tree
tree shaken and animals fall onto sheet - KICK SAMPLING - sample organisms in river
river bed ‘kicked’ to move substrate
net held downstream to collect dislodged creatures
What are 2 ways to sample plants/very slow animals?
quadrats - point or frame
What are 3 ways to colect data using a frame quadrat?
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%
Name and state the equipment used to measure 6 abiotic factors
wind speed - anemometer
light intensity - light meter
relative humidity - humidity sensor
pH - pH probe
Temperature - temperature probe
oxygen content in water - dissolved oxygen probe
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
-can record rapid changes
- high precision measurements with reduced chance of human error
What are 2 ways to measure species biodiversity?
Species richness
Species evenness
What is species richness?
- the number of different species in an area
- higher the number = greater species richness
What is species evenness?
- the number of individuals of a species in an area
- more similiar population size of each species = greater species evenness
How can the population size of animals be estimated?
capture - mark - release - recapture method
How can the population size of plants be estimated?
Samples taken with quadrats to find average per m^2
–> multiply by total area = population size
How does measuring species diversity lets us get information about the stability of an ecosystem/degree of pollution?
Stable ecosystem = high biodiversity w/ lots of species + even + large population sizes
How is species diversity measured?
Simpson’s Index of diversity
(D)
What two factors does simpsons index of diversity take into account?
Species richness
Species evenness
What do each of the symbols in Simpsons equation mean?
D = 1–Σ [(n/N)2]
Σ = sum of
n = total number of organisms for a single species
N = total number of organisms of all species