4.6 Biodiversity Within A Community

Question 1

What is species richness?

Answer 1

The number of species in a habitat or a community

Question 2

What is the difference between index of diversity and species richness?

Answer 2

Species richness only considers number of species in a community whereas index of diversity considers number of individuals in each species aswell

Question 3

In what ways does agriculture decrease biodiversity?

Answer 3

• Deforestation - direct removal of species and habitats
• Pesticides - direct removal of pests and species that feed on pests can’t survive
• Herbicides - direct removal of plants and species that feed on plants can’t survive
• Monocultures - only growing one species on a large area of land means there is less space for other species to thrive. Competition for resources in a small space kills many species

Question 4

Give some examples of ways that farmers can increase biodiversity

Answer 4

• Plant hedges around fields
• Reduce use of pesticides and fertilisers
• Use organic fertilisers