Biodiversity

Question 1

Define biodiversity

Answer 1

The general term used to describe variety in the living world. Species diversity refers to the different species and the number of individuals. Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes and ecosystem diversity refers to the range of different habitats.

Question 2

Define species richness

Answer 2

The number of different species in a particular area at a given time

Question 3

State the formula to calculate the index of diversity

Answer 3

N(N-1)/In(n-1) where N = total number of organisms of all species, n = total number of organisms of each species

Question 4

Explain how farming affects biodiversity

Answer 4

Farming tends to decrease biodiversity as farmers tend to select particular species for characteristics that make them more useful. Additionally, other organisms are out competed by the farmer’s plants as resources are limited. Pesticides can further reduce biodiversity by killing non-desired organisms.

Question 5

Suggest methods of balancing conservation with farming demand

Answer 5

Maintain hedgerows at beneficial height and shape, plant hedges rather than use fences, maintain and create ponds, leave wet corners of fields, plant trees, use organic fertilisers, reduce pesticide use, use crop rotation rather than monoculture, reduce herbicide use, leave cutting of verges and field edges until after flowering and seed dispersal, introduce conservation areas

Question 6

Explain how we could compare genetic diversity within or between different species

Answer 6

Comparison of observable characteristics, comparison of DNA base sequences, comparison of base sequence of mRNA, comparison of amino acid sequences in proteins

Question 7

What is species diversity?

Answer 7

The number of different species and the number of individuals in each species within any one community

Question 8

What is genetic diversity?

Answer 8

The variety of genes possessed by the individuals that make up the population of a species