Biodiversity

Question 1

Define biodiversity

Answer 1

The variety of life that exists our biosphere.

Question 2

What are the three levels of biodiversity?

Answer 2

• Genes
• Species
• Ecosystems

Question 3

What is a biodiversity hotspot

Answer 3

A biodiversity hotspot is a region with numerous endemic (native) species and a large number of endangered or threatened species.

Question 4

What is species biodiversity

Answer 4

Biodiversity can refer to the existence of many different species
A species is most often defined as a group of organisms that is capable of interbreeding under natural circumstances to produce fertile offspring

Question 5

What is ecosystem biodiversity?

Answer 5

An ecosystem is composed of all the living organisms (biotic factors) and the physical environment or non-living environment (abiotic factors) and their interactions.

Question 6

What are the 4 ways of measuring biodiversity?

Answer 6

Species Richness- Total no. of species within an area
Ecosystem Diversity- total no. of ecosystems in the region
Genetic Diversity- total variety go genes in a single species
Endemic Species- species that occur here and nowhere else in the world.

Question 6

What is genetic biodiversity?

Answer 6

Generally populations with higher genetic diversity are more resilient, can better survive sudden changes in the environment and are less sustainable to disease compared to populations with low genetic diversity

Question 7

What are the three species concepts and an explanation.

Answer 7

Biological
- A group of species who are able to interbreed in nature and produce viable fertile offspring.
Morphological
- The most commonly applied. Characterises species by their form, or morphology.
Phylogenic
- Identifies a species as being the smallest group of organisms that can all trace their origins to a single common ancestor

Question 8

What is spatial scales?

Answer 8

Refers to the space being occupied.
Studied to determine the extent of the ecosystem and the distribution of
organisms within it

Question 8

What is temporal scales?

Answer 8

Provide information about the biodiversity of organisms in an area over a certain time period

Question 9

Describe the impact biodiversity has on genes/genomes

Answer 9

Thus, large genetic diversity – a big gene pool – positively affects ecosystem resilience and function. When we drain species of their genetic diversity we destroy their adaptive potential, and their long-term survival will be jeopardised

Question 10

What qualifies as a biodiversity hotspot?

Answer 10

1. contain at least 1500 species of endemic vascular plants found nowhere else on Earth
2. have lost 70% of it’s primary native vegetation