Biodiversity

Question 1

What are the 3 levels of biodiversity?

Answer 1

Genetic diversity

Species diversity

Ecosystem diversity

Question 2

Define mutation

Answer 2

Permanent change in the genetic information

Can be small, localised changes (gene mutation)
can be large as in a chromosomal mutation

Question 3

Define habitat

Answer 3

Environment where an organism lives

Each habitat has certain distinctive features which affect organisms living in it (biotic and abiotic factors)

Question 4

What is genetic diversity?

Answer 4

Ranges of different genes in the group and the size of the gene pool causes a variation within the species.

Question 5

What occurs if there is high genetic variation within a species?

Answer 5

it increases the chances of the species surviving changing conditions.

Those with favourable characteristics will survive by natural selection to produce, these features will become more common over time in the population

Question 6

How does variation occur?

Answer 6

both sexually reproducing and asexual reproduction, mutations can occur in a reproductive organ or during meiosis, because of this the offspring will have an altered genetic information.

Question 7

How will genetic diversity of a population likely remain constant?

Answer 7

large population
no mutations or the rate of mutations of a specific allele equals reserve mutation
no selective mating and reproduction is purely random
no migration in or out

Question 8

What is Species Diversity?

Answer 8

Refers to the variety of species in an area

Question 9

Where mostly is there of high richness of species found? (2)

Answer 9

found in warm areas with high rainfall
eg. rainforest in Queensland

Marine ecosystems
eg. coral reefs and continental shelves

Question 10

Where mostly is there of low richness of species found?

Answer 10

Land ecosystems such as small islands, high mountains tops

Deserts

Question 11

What is the inverse relationship between species diversity and geological isolation of habitats?

Answer 11

the more isolated and the higher the altitude a community is, the lower the species diversity

Question 12

What affects species diversity in an area?

Answer 12

ecological niches available in the area 
altitude 
isolation
weather
environment

Question 13

Define what an ecological niche is.

Answer 13

functional role and position of an organism in an ecosystem, which is it’s job

Question 14

How is mega diversity measured?

Answer 14

on the total number of species in a country and the number of endemic species (introduced species)

Australia is a megadiverse country.

Question 15

Define ecosystem.

Answer 15

the interaction of living things with their environment and with other living things in an area functioning together to make an ecological unit

interaction between the environment + its community

Question 16

Define community.

Answer 16

A collection of populations (different species) living in a particular area at a particular time.

Question 17

What is ecosystem diversity?

Answer 17

the variety of ecosystems on earth

Question 18

Why is ecosystem diversity harder to define than species or genetic diversity?

Answer 18

boundaries of many communities are often fluid as species move to find shelter, food, a mate or escape a predator.

Question 19

Define biodiversity

Answer 19

The full range of different living things in a particular area of region.

Described at various levels, including the range of different species, genetic diversity or the diversity of ecosystem present in a larger area

Question 20

Define species

Answer 20

A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Question 21

Define environment

Answer 21

abiotic + biotic components of an area