Biodiversity

Question 1

Explain why is it important to maintain biodiversity.

Answer 1

Food;
Medicines;
Wood;
Genetic diversity for future use;
Science / technology / research;
Education;
Wellbeing;
Tourism / attract visitors;
Ethical / moral;
Local cultural significance;
Maintain / protect stability of food chains;
Pollination / ecosystem services;
Protect against soil erosion / flooding;
Soil formation;
Climate stability

Question 2

Outline the characteristic features of the kingdom Animalia.

Answer 2

Multicellular;
Eukaryote / eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus;
Specialised cells / tissues / organs;
Heterotrophic;
Nervous system;
Cilia / flagella;
Mobile

Question 3

Explain how the term biodiversity can be considered at different levels.

Answer 3

Variation / diversity of ecosystems / habitats;
Number of how many / variety of / diversity of species;
Relative abundance of each species;
Genetic diversity / range of alleles within a species

Question 4

State the two sources of phenotypic variation in the …(whale)… population.

Answer 4

Genes and environment

Question 5

Algae used to belong to the kingdom Plantae but are now classified in the kingdom Protoctista.
State one reason why the algae is classified in the kingdom Protoctista and not in the kingdom Plantae.

Answer 5

Unicellular / not multicellular;
Motile / have flagella

Question 6

Outline the role of IUCN

Answer 6

Global authority;
To give advice to conserve / protect nature / biodiversity;
Categorise species conservation status;
Influence governments;
Educate / raise awareness

Question 7

Outline how an ecological survey can measure the biodiversity of a terrestrial habitat.

Answer 7

Use random sampling;
Repeat and fins mean;
Frame quadrats to measure plants / vegetation / stationary organisms;
Mark-release-recapture for animals;
Calculate Simpson’s index of diversity;
Species richness and relative abundance

Question 8

Suggest the factors that need to be considered by organisations to successfully reintroduce and restore a breeding population. (Lynx)

Answer 8

Obtain healthy / fertile animals;
Test for genetic variation / diversity;
Consider if sufficient / suitable habitat available;
Consider if sufficient prey / food available;
Public safety advice / education;
Organise compensation for farmers who lose livestock;
Outlaw killing / disturbing lynx;
Monitor lynx / other animal / prey populations;
Control if population grows too much / spreads too fa

Question 9

Describe and explain the 3 levels of biodiversity.

Answer 9

Species diversity — the number of different species within an area;
Habitat / ecosystem diversity — the number of different habitats within an area;
Genetic diversity — the diversity in genes within a species (intra-specific) OR in between species (inter-specific)

Question 10

Outline how the students could measure the biodiversity of plants and insects.

Answer 10

Plants:
Quadrat;
Transects;
Insects:
Pooters / pitfall traps / nets / light traps;
Mark-release-recapture;

Question 11

Name the mathematical method OR statistical test that can be used :
To estimate the total biodiversity
To test whether plant biodiversity is associated with insect biodiversity

Answer 11

Simpson’s index of biodiversity;
Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient / Spearman’s rank correlation