BIODIVERSITY

Question 1

biodiversity (2)

Answer 1

• number of species/species richness

- number of organisms within each species

Question 2

biodiversity varies based on environment (2)

Answer 2

• bright environment will support more plants/herbivores/carnivores as there is a higher light intensity so more plants
• more energy in an ecosystem produces more species/individuals so equatorial regions are more biodiverse than polar ones

Question 3

how biodiversity can vary over time (3)

Answer 3

• succession - over time an environment becomes more suitable for other species
• natural selection
• human influence

Question 4

human influence on biodiversity (4)

Answer 4

• farming/roads/industry destroyed rainforest habitats, extincting many species
• over-fishing depleted habitats and trawlers damage the ocean floor habitats
• misuse of land, i.e cattle-trampling, and increased temp has lead to more desert
• rivers polluted with industrial chemicals

Question 5

how biodiversity supports civilisation (3)

Answer 5

• small number of plant species providing staple foods
• medicinal drugs derived from plants/fungi
• living organism providing raw materials