Biodiversity

Question 1

What is biodiversity?

Answer 1

A measure of the variety of life in an area. The variety of living species, factors affecting them, within an ecosystem.

Question 2

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 2

Consists of all living and non living components of a particular area.

Question 3

What is a habitat?

Answer 3

The place where an organism lives, with conditions and features it has adapted to and the other organisms present there.

Question 4

What is a species?

Answer 4

A group of organisms that are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

Question 5

What is species diversity?

Answer 5

The number of species and the number of individuals within each species in an area.

Question 6

What changes to increase the biodiversity of an ecosystem?

Answer 6

Number of different species within the community increases.
Number of individuals within each species increases.

Question 7

What is species richness and evenness?

Answer 7

Species richness = number of different species in an ecological community,
Species evenness = measures how relatively abundant each species is within the community.

Question 8

What is genetic diversity?

Answer 8

The variety of all the genes possessed by the individuals in a population or whole species.

Question 9

Why is genetic diversity important?

Answer 9

Related to the ability to adapt to a changing environment. Highly inbred population with low genetic diversity, have less chance to evolve and survive.

High genetic diversity = more stable as can better adapt.

Question 10

What are the 2 types of quadrat?

Answer 10

1. Point quadrat - bar with 10 holes and 2 legs. Species abundance sampled by long pin through each whole and counting species touched by pin.
2. Frame quadrat - square frame. Species abundance in sampled area recorded.

Question 11

What is random sampling?

Answer 11

To avoid bias in data collection. Coordinates picked using random number generator.
But not cover all habitat areas equally. So biodiversity often underestimated as species present in low numbers missed.

Question 12

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 12

Samples taken at fixed intervals. Measure abundance and distribution of species - gradient in environmental conditions.

Belt transect can measure species abundance with frame quadrats.

Question 13

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 13

A habitat divided into different areas to be sampled separately. No species underrepresented, but can be over-representation of some areas.

Question 14

What is opportunistic sampling?

Answer 14

Based on prior knowledge. Where species known to live is sampled - easier and quicker than random but data may be biased. Biodiversity overestimated.

Question 15

What is species richness?

Answer 15

The number of different species present in an area at a given time.

Question 16

What is species evenness?

Answer 16

A measure of the relative abundance of different species in an area.

Question 17

What is Simpson’s diversity index?

Answer 17

A quantitative measure of biodiversity ion a habitat that gives a comparable score.

Question 18

What does a high Simpson’s value mean?

Answer 18

The more diverse the habitat is. So is more stable and has a greater ability to withstand change. A small environmental change is likely to only affect 1 species.

Question 19

How can genetic diversity be measured?

Answer 19

• estimated by comparing observable physical characteristics
• many of these are polygenic
• observable characteristics are not always discrete but vary continuously and can be further modified by the environment.
• analysing individual genomes is more advanced method that allows quantification of levels of genetic variation.

Question 20

What is a locus?

Answer 20

The position of a gene on a chromosome.
Can be used to calculate genetic diversity and the proportion of polymorphic loci.

Question 21

What effects have humans had on the environment?

Answer 21

Alter ecosystems to produce food, use biological resources in our day to day lives, mine resources.

Question 22

How are many agricultural practices used to increase yields but are bad for the environment?

Answer 22

• Crops planted in monocultures, reducing biodiversity.
• Removing hedgerows, filling ponds and deforestation removes habitats.
• Overusing fertilisers and overgrazing damages ecosystems.
• Selective breeding reduces genetic diversity.
• Animals are stocked at high density, so disease and environmental pollution are high.

Question 23

What are techniques to mitigate agricultural impacts on biodiversity?

Answer 23

• Biological control methods to reduce pesticides
• Natural meadows for grazing
• Hay rather than grass for silage
• Rotating crops and using nitrogen fixing crops instead of fertiliser

Question 24

What are features of climate change?

Answer 24

Greenhouse gases affect the earth’s ability to absorb and reflect radiation from the sun.
Many animals are incapable of migrating quickly.

Question 25

What is a keystone species?

Answer 25

A species which has a disproportionate effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Question 26

How is biodiversity a genetic resource?

Answer 26

Wild species have a lot of potential - combat disease and climate change. Undiscovered so far. By selective breeding wild strains + species, humans can breed to crop varieties to cope with climate change.
Medicine and vaccines.

Question 27

What are economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

Answer 27

Provisioning services - food, fuel
Regulating services - pollination, air quality
Supporting services - detoxification, nutrient cycling
Cultural services - aesthetic value, mental health.

Question 28

What are aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

Answer 28

Scientific studies to increased recovery time when have good natural environmental conditions.

Question 29

What are ethical arguments for conservation?

Answer 29

Prevent future generations from enjoying ecosystems and benefits. Not have right to destroy habitats as have equal right to the world.

Question 30

What is CITES?

Answer 30

Signed by 180 nations - protect endangered animals and plants by regulating their trade. Not legally binding.

Question 31

What is the CBD?

Answer 31

Signed by 192 countries - national strategies for sustainable development - maintain biodiversity and cooperation between countries. Extends to our environment. eg. sustainable water use.

Question 32

What is CSS in England?

Answer 32

Encouraged English farmers to protect and enhance countryside:
Sustain diversity, improve opportunities for others to enjoy it, create and improve wildlife habitats, restore neglected land.