4.2.4- Calculating Biodiversity

Question 1

Define what a locus is.

Answer 1

The position of a gene on a chromosome.

Question 2

Define what ‘polymorphic gene locus’ is.

Answer 2

A locus that has more than two alleles.

Question 3

Explain what Simpsons index of biodiversity is.

Answer 3

A measure of the diversity of a habitat.

Question 4

What is species evenness?

Answer 4

A measure of how evenly spread and represented the species are. A measure of the relative abundance of individuals in each species.

Question 5

What is species richness?

Answer 5

A measure of how many different species are present.

Question 6

What two things need to be taken into account when calculating the biodiversity of an area?

Answer 6

Species evenness and species richness- the higher each one, the more biodiverse the area.

Question 7

How can the abundance of plants be measured?

Answer 7

Calculating the percentage cover using a quadrat.

Question 8

What is the formula for simpson’s index of biodiversity?

Answer 8

D= 1- [sum(n/N)^2 
N= number of plants in the particular species and N= total number of all individuals of all species/ or total percentage cover for plants.

Question 9

To measure species richness, a ________ survey must be taken.

Answer 9

Quantitative.

Question 10

Explain what a high value for simpson’s index of biodiversity (D) indicates.

Answer 10

A diverse habitat- one with a high species evenness and richness. The habitat is home to a wide range and many different organisms.

Question 11

Explain what a high sinpsom’s index of biodiversity (D) suggests for the habitat.

Answer 11

The habitat is stable and able to withstand change. There will only be a small effect on the habitat if it changes as only some species will be affected but there are plenty more- making it stable.

Question 12

Explain what a low simpson’s index of biodiversity suggests for the area’s habitat.

Answer 12

It suggests a habitat dominated by a few species and that a small change to the wnvironment that affects one of those species could damage or destroy the habitat. One of these changes could be a disease, human impact or predator, for example.

Question 13

In zoo’s and other captive populations, the _________ _________ of the animals is limited.

Answer 13

Genetic diversity.

Question 14

What can assessing the genetic diversity of a (captive) population be useful for?

Answer 14

Assessing the value of the population as a resource for genetic variation.

Question 15

How can a simple assessment of genetic diversity be taken?

Answer 15

By looking at the observable features within individuals- eg hair colour or eye colour. If they’re different, it suggests diverse genes.

Question 16

Genetic diversity is found where there is more than one ________ for a particular _________.

Answer 16

Allele

Locus

Question 17

If there is high genetic diversity in a population, what will this lead to?

Answer 17

Variations that are observable taking place between individuals- especially in the offspring (gametes) produced by members of the population.

Question 18

What does a heterozygous loci mean?

Answer 18

A loci that has more than one allele in a particular loci- the more means the more genetic diversity.

Question 19

What is the formula for working out the proportion of polymorphic gene loci?

Answer 19

Number of total polymorphic gene loci/ total number of loci= polymorphic gene loci proportion

Question 20

What is a polymorphic gene loci?

Answer 20

A loci where there are more than two alleles- this will increase genetic diversity.

Question 21

What are two ways you can work out genetic diversity, as allies yo just looking at overs able features?

Answer 21

• calculating the number of heterozygous loci in one individual
• loci with more than one allele/ total loci x100= genetic diversity

Question 22

what is the limitation of calculating the number of heterozygous loci in the individual as an estimate of genetic diversity?

Answer 22

It does not give a good measure of the population as a genetic resource.

Question 23

What is an allele (AKA gene variant)?

Answer 23

A version of a gene.