Biodiversity :). Flashcards
What is a species?
A group of similar organisms able to reproduce to give fertile offspring
What is a habitat?
The area inhabited by a species which includes physical factors and living biotic factors
Name 1 physical factors of a habitat
Soil and temperature range
Name 2 living biotic factor?
Availability of food
Presence of predators
What are areas high biodiversity?
Areas with lots of different species
What is habitat diversity?
Number of different habitats in an area
e.g. Particular area could contain many different habitats- sand dunes, woodland, meadows, streams etc.
What is species biodiversity?
The number of different species and abundance of each species in an area.
E.g. Woodland could contain many different species of plants, insects, birds and mammals.
What is genetic diversity?
The variation of alleles within a species or population of a species
E.g. Variation of alleles within dog species give rise to different breeds e.g. Labrador or poodle
Species richness is?
Number of different species in an area, the higher the number of species the greater the species richness
What is species evenness?
Measure of relative abundance of each species in an area. The more similar the population size of each species the greater the species evenness
How is species richness measured?
Measured by taking random samples of a habitat and counting the number of different species
What is species evenness measured?
By taking random samples of a habitat and counting the number of individuals of each different species
What is biodiversity?
The variety of living organisms in an area
Why is a sample taken?
In most cases it would be too time consuming to count every individual organism in a habitat
What are based upon the sample taken?
Estimates about the whole habitat
What does sampling usually involve? (4 stages)
1)Choose area to sample
Count number of 2)individuals of each species
3) repeat process
4) use results to estimate total number of individuals
When comparing different habitats and comparing them what must you do?
Use the same sampling technique
What sort of area would you choose to sample?
A small area within the habitat being studied
How would you count number of individuals plants?
Use quadrat
How would you count number of individual flying insects?
A sweep net
Net on pole
How would you count number of individual ground insects?
Use pitfall trap
Small trap that insects can’t get out of
How would you count number of individual aquatic animals ?
Use net
How many samples should you take and why?
As many as possible as will give better indication of the whole habitat
For step four what is the other option to estimating total number of individuals?
Total number of different species in the habitat being studied