Biodiversity

Question 1

Different types of sampling

Answer 1

Random sampling
Systematic sampling
Stratified sampling
Opportunistic sampling

Question 2

When is random sampling used

Answer 2

It is used when two areas have got homogenous features. It is sampling by chance.

Question 3

When is systematic sampling used

Answer 3

It is used when the environment has a changing gradient e.g. In moisture and temperature and sample at intervals. A transact line or belt transact are often used.

Question 4

When is stratified sampling is used

Answer 4

When populations can be put into different sub groups based on a particular characteristic. A random sample is taken from each of these sub groups proportional to the size

Question 5

When is opportunistic sampling used

Answer 5

This is used when there are enough of each species to sample. This is when you record things that are available in the area.

Question 6

What is belt transact

Answer 6

Is when samples are taken between two parallel lines

Question 7

What is the importance of sampling

Answer 7

So that you can make generalisations, estimations about the number of organisms, distribution of species or measured characteristics throughout the entire habitat.

Question 8

What are the different levels of biodiversity

Answer 8

Habitat diversity
Species diversity
Genetic diversity

Question 9

What is habitat diversity

Answer 9

It includes abiotic factors such as soil, temperature range. Also include biotic factors such as availability of food or presence of predators. It is the number of different habitats in an area. E.g. Sand dunes, woodlands, meadows and streams.

Question 10

What is species diversity

Answer 10

Is the number of different species (species richness) and the abundance of each species (species evenness) in an area.

Question 11

What is genetic diversity

Answer 11

Is the variation of alleles within a species or a population of a species. E.g. Different breeds within species

Question 12

What is species richness

What is species evenness

What creates a high biodiversity

Answer 12

The number of different species

The abundance of each species

A high species evenness and species richness creates a high biodiversity

Question 13

Simpsons index measuring biodiversity

Answer 13

D=1-(sum of (n/N)^2

Where
n= Total number of organisms in one species
N=Total number of all organisms

The closer the answer is to 1 the more diverse the habitat and the greater its ability to cope with change.

Question 14

What is an open quadrat

Answer 14

Is a quadrat with no grids on the inside. It is used to estimate the population of species

Question 15

What is a gridded quadrat

Answer 15

• Is a more accurate way to measure population of species
• Can be more accurate by adding more grids
• More precise if you use a smaller quadrat such as a frame quadrat

Question 16

Frame quadrat

Answer 16

When you drop a pin through a tube that can spin on its axis. What ever the pin touches you record in you sample.

Question 17

Chi-square test

Answer 17

Is used to access whether an observed distribution of one variable fits with another distribution that is expected.

Sum of (o-e)^2/e
Where e= expected frequency 
o= observed frequency 

To calculate degrees of freedom is number or rows -1

Question 18

What is the importance of sampling when measuring biodiversity

Answer 18

It is hard to count every individual so sampling provides an estimate.

Question 19

What is species richness

Answer 19

Species richness is the number of different species in a habitat

Question 20

What is species evenness

Answer 20

The number of individual species living in an area

Question 21

What does a low value of Simpsons index of diversity mean

Answer 21

The habitat is dominated by one species and the ecosystem won’t be able to cope with change

Question 22

Explain the process of selective breeding

Answer 22

• Breed two organisms with desired characteristics
• Test for the desired characteristics
• Then use the offsprings with the desired characteristic to breed
• Over generations the population will have desired characteristics.

Question 23

What are factors affecting biodiversity

Answer 23

• Human population growth
• Monoculture
• Global warming

Question 24

How does human population growth affect biodiversity

Answer 24

• Deforestation: causing a loss of habitat
• Over exploitation: resource are being used up faster than they are being replenished (poaching)
• pollution: kills habitats
• urbanisation: cities and roads isolate species

Question 25

How might a population scattered in isolated areas speed up extinction

Answer 25

- They are scattered and less likely to breed as the is a low chance they will meet. - As the population is small there will be less genetic variation meaning they might not adapt if there is a change in the environment.

Question 26

What is monoculture

Answer 26

The cultivation of a single crop

Question 27

How does monoculture reduce biodiversity

Answer 27

- Habitat loss as land is cleared to make way for large fields - Loss if local plants and animals as they are seen as weeds and pests - Monoculture: only one crop is planted

Question 28

How does global warming affect biodiversity

Answer 28

- Melting of ice caps lead to the extinction of plants and animal species - Sea level rising: floods low lying land and salt water flows up lakes reducing habitats of thresh water plants - Higher temperatures and less rainfall would result in some plant species failing to survive - Insect life cycles will change as they adapt affect plants they pollinate

Question 29

Reasons for maintaining biodiversity

Answer 29

- Aesthetic reasons - Economic reasons - Ecological reasons

Question 30

What are aesthetic reasons of maintaining biodiversity

Answer 30

- Natural world provides inspiration - Studies show that people recover from stress when they are supported by a natural environment - Our environment enriches our lives

Question 31

Economic reasons to maintain biodiversity

Answer 31

- The removal of a non sustainable recourse can collapse and industry (hard wood) - Loss of potential economic importance with a loss of biodiversity - High biodiversity provides protection against abiotic stresses and disease. (Irish potato famine)

Question 32

Ecological reasons to maintain biodiversity

Answer 32

- All organisms are interdependent on each other for their survival - All species are keystone species and have disproportionately large affect on the environment relative to their abundance

Question 33

Who is IUCN and what did they do

Answer 33

The international union of the conservation of nature establishes CITES the convention of international trade of endangered species.

Question 34

What does CITES regulate

Answer 34

They regulate the international trade of of wild plant and animal species and their products. 35,000 species of plants and animals are safe guarded

Question 35

What happened in the rio convention

Answer 35

A meeting of 172 nations resulting in new agreements: - Convention on biological diversity: national plans for sustainable development - United nations framework on climate change: steps to stabilise greenhouse gases - United nations to combat deforestation: prevent deforestation and reduce effects of drought

Question 36

What is the country side stewardship scheme

Answer 36

A scheme which offers farmers and land managers money to enhance and conserve the English landscape by: - Sustaining beauty and diversity of the landscape - Improving, extending and creating wildlife habitats - Restoring neglected land - improving opportunities for countryside enjoyment

Question 37

What is in situ conservation

Answer 37

Conservation within the natural habitat

Question 38

What is ex situ conservation

Answer 38

Conservation out of the natural habitat

Question 39

Examples of in situ conservation

Answer 39

Wildlife reserves where they control grazing, restrict human access, feed animals and remove invasive species Marine conservation zones they create an area of refuge within populations so they can build up and repopulate adjacent areas

Question 40

Examples of ex situ conservation

Answer 40

Seed banks: where seed can be frozen and stored for over a century without losing fertility Botanic gardens: controlled environments used to grow a variety if rare plants for the purpose of conservation, research and education Captive breeding: breeding organisms in captivity the reintroducing them into the wild when they are strong enough. This happens in zoos and animal sanctuaries.