A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity

Question 1

Define the term biodiversity.

Answer 1

Biodiversity is the variety of life that exists in a specified area.

Question 2

What are the levels at which biodiversity can be studied?

Answer 2

Biodiversity can be studied at the level of the:

ecosystem (or habitat)

species

genes

Question 3

What is ecosystem diversity?

Answer 3

Ecosystem diversity is the range of different ecosystems, or habitats, within a particular area.

Question 4

What are the components of species diversity?

Answer 4

Species diversity consists of a combination of:

species richness = the number of different species

species evenness = the relative abundance of each species, i.e. the number of individuals of each species

Question 5

What is genetic diversity?

Answer 5

Genetic diversity is the number of different alleles of genes present in a species or local population.

Question 6

True or False?

All of the species on Earth have been discovered, named and described.

Answer 6

False.

There are many species that are yet to be discovered, named and described.

Question 7

True or False?

There are fewer species alive today than in the past.

Answer 7

False.

There are many more species alive today than have been alive in the past. This is shown in fossil evidence.

Question 8

True or False?

The accuracy of species estimates depends on correct classification. (NOS)

Answer 8

True.

The accuracy of species estimates depends on correct classification, e.g. different species being incorrectly classified together will result in an underestimate of the number of species.

Question 9

What are ‘lumpers’ and ‘splitters’ in taxonomy? (NOS)

Answer 9

Lumpers are taxonomists who are more likely to classify species together while splitters are taxonomists who are more likely to classify species separately.

Question 10

Define the term anthropogenic extinction.

Answer 10

Anthropogenic extinction is extinction caused by human activities.

Question 11

True or False?

Many scientists argue that we are currently experiencing a mass extinction event.

Answer 11

True.

Many scientists argue that we are currently experiencing a mass extinction event due to human activities.

Question 12

True or False?

The current round of extinctions is the first in Earth’s history.

Answer 12

False.

There have been five mass extinction events in the past, so the current round of extinctions could be the sixth mass extinction.

Question 13

What are examples of species that have gone extinct due to human activities?

Answer 13

Species extinctions caused by human activities include:

North Island giant moa

Caribbean monk seal

You should know about one other example of your own choosing.

Question 14

What caused the extinction of the North Island giant moa?

Answer 14

The North Island giant moa went extinct because it was hunted by humans for food. They may also have suffered the effects of habitat loss due to farming.

Question 15

Why were Caribbean monk seals hunted to extinction by humans?

Answer 15

Caribbean monk seals were hunted to extinction:

for their meat

for oil

because they were easy to hunt

to provide scientific specimens

Question 16

What is clear-cutting in the context of deforestation?

Answer 16

Clear-cutting is a practice where all the trees in an area are cut down and removed.

Question 17

What are the main reasons for clear-cutting in the mixed dipterocarp forest of Southeast Asia?

Answer 17

Clear-cutting in Southeast Asia provides:

timber

land for agriculture, such as palm oil plantations

The loss of mixed dipterocarp forest is an example of ecosystem loss that you are expected to know about, along with one other example of choice.

Question 18

Why is repeat survey data important in biodiversity studies?

Answer 18

Repeat survey data is important in biodiversity studies to:

provide evidence that change is taking place

track changes in biodiversity over time

ensure that there is enough data to check reliability

Question 19

What two aspects of biodiversity should be assessed in surveys?

Answer 19

In biodiversity surveys both species richness and species evenness need to be assessed.

Question 20

Who are citizen scientists?

Answer 20

Citizen scientists are members of the public who help to gather data.

Question 21

Why is peer review important for published scientific research? (NOS)

Answer 21

Peer review is important for published research to ensure that the experimental methods used are suitable, and that any conclusions match the data.

Question 22

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using citizen scientists for data collection? (NOS)

Answer 22

An advantage of involving citizen scientists in research is that they can help to gather large volumes of data from many sites around the world.

A disadvantage is that citizen scientists may not always collect valid data due to a lack of training.

Question 23

True or False?

Human population growth is the overarching cause of biodiversity loss.

Answer 23

True.

While there are multiple causes of biodiversity loss, all result from human population growth.

Question 24

How has human population growth led to biodiversity loss?

Answer 24

Human population growth has resulted in biodiversity loss due to:

hunting and other forms of over-exploitation

loss of natural habitat due to urbanisation, deforestation and agriculture

pollution

spread of pests and disease

invasive alien species

Question 25

What is in situ conservation?

Answer 25

In situ conservation involves protecting and managing natural ecosystems within their original locations, such as through protected areas, rewilding, and reclamation.

Question 26

True or False?

Rewilding always requires human intervention to be successful.

Answer 26

False.

Rewilding can be either active, involving human intervention, or passive, allowing natural processes to restore ecosystems.

Question 27

What is a protected area in the context of conservation?

Answer 27

A protected area is a defined geographical region, such as a national park or nature reserve, where human activities are restricted in order to benefit wildlife.

Question 28

What are some examples of ex situ conservation methods?

Answer 28

Examples of ex situ conservation methods include:

zoos

botanic gardens

storage of genetic information in seed or tissue banks

Question 29

How do zoos play a role in conservation?

Answer 29

Zoos play a critical role in conservation through captive breeding programs, scientific research, and reintroductions of species into the wild.

Question 30

What is a a seed bank?

Answer 30

A seed bank is a facility that conserves plant diversity by drying and storing seeds in temperature-controlled conditions to preserve them for future use.

Question 31

What does the EDGE programme focus on in prioritising species for conservation?

Answer 31

The EDGE programme focuses on species that are:

evolutionarily distinct

globally endangered

Question 32

Define evolutionarily distinct in the context of the EDGE programme.

Answer 32

Evolutionarily distinct species have few close evolutionary relatives and represent a unique part of Earth’s evolutionary tree that is not represented elsewhere.

Question 33

Define globally endangered in the context of the EDGE programme.

Answer 33

Globally endangered species are those that face a high risk of extinction across their entire range, not just locally.

Question 34

What other considerations should be taken into account when prioritising species for conservation, beyond their EDGE status? (NOS)

Answer 34

Considerations beyond a species’ EDGE status when prioritising for conservation include issues that are:

ethical

environmental

political

social

cultural

economic issues

cultural significance