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A Level: Biology > Biodiversity > Flashcards

Biodiversity Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Define species

A

Organisms similar in appearance, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics whose members are able to interbreed freely to produce fertile offspring

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2
Q

Define habitat

A

The place where an organism lives

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3
Q

Define population

A

Group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at a particular time

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4
Q

Define community

A

all the populations of living organisms in a habitat

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5
Q

Define biodiversity

A

1) range of habitats
2) range of living organisms
3) number of different species
4) genetic diversity

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6
Q

Define species richness

A

The number of different species living in a particular area

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7
Q

Define species evenness

A

A comparison of the numbers of individuals of each species in a living area

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8
Q

Why is it that we do not know the exact number of species

A

We cannot be sure that we have found all species on earth

New species are being found all the time

Evolution and speciation are continuing

Endangered species and extinctions

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9
Q

What does genetic biodiversity mean

A

The variety of different genes that make up a species

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10
Q

Why is it that a species with greater genetic biodiversity will survive long term

A

There is a greater range of genes
Greater chance that an organism will survive a change in habitat

Better adapted to catch pray/ avoid new predators

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11
Q

Why is sampling random

A

To avoid any bias

To make sample representative of an area

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12
Q

Explain the process of sampling species of plant on a field

A

1) lay out two long tape measures along the sides of study area
2) obtain 2 coordinates using random number generator
3) place quadrant 0.5m^2 at coordinates
4) record % cover
5) repeat many times
6) calculate mean and species diversity

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13
Q

Describe the three non random sampling techniques

A

1) opportunistic - uses organisms that are conveniently available
2) stratified- sub groups , based on a particular characteristic
3) systematic- often uses a line or belt transects

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14
Q

What is a belt transects

A

Two parallel lines are marked and samples taken of the area between the two lines

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15
Q

What is a line transect

A

Place a tape/ rope along the study site

At regular intervals record species touching the line

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16
Q

What is different in a interrupted belt transect

A

Take numbers at regular intervals

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17
Q

What is a quadrat

What can a quadrat be used to work out

A

A frame that forms a known area (m^2)

Density, frequency and percentage cover

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18
Q

What is a point quadrat

A

The apparatus consists of a free standing drama with a row of ten sliding pins

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19
Q

What 3 things can a quadratic be used to work out

A

Density
Percentage cover
Frequency

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20
Q

What is a point quadrat

A

A free standing frame with a row of ten sliding pins
These are lowered onto the vegetation
A record is kept of the PIN number and each species of plant that is touching the pin

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21
Q

What scale is used for measuring species abundance

A

ACFOR

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22
Q

What does ACFOR stand for

A 
A=abundant ( greater or equal to 30%)
C=common (20-29%)
F=Frequent (10-19%)
O=occasional (5-9%)
R=rare (1-4%)
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23
Q

Describe a pit fall trap

A

Used to catch small crawling invertebrates

Like a hole in the ground which has a roof structure so that it does not fill with water

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24
Q

What us sweep netting used to catch

A

Insects in areas of long grass

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25
Q

What can be used to sample birds and bats

A

Nets

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26
Q

Describe tree beating

A

A large white cloth is placed under the tree
The animals fall onto the sheet and can be collected and studied
Basically smacking a tree with a big stick

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27
Q

What is a pooter

A

Used to catch small insects
Person sucks on mouthpiece
Insects are drawn into the holding chamber via an inlet tube

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28
Q

What is kick sampling

A

Used to study organisms that live in rivers
River bank is kicked for a period of time
A net is held downstream and captures organisms released from the substrate into the flowing water

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29
Q

What is a tullgren funnel

A

Soil is placed into a funnel

A light above it dries out the soil, organisms move away from the heat/light and fall through the sieve

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30
Q

What will a light trap catch

A

Small mammals

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31
Q

How can you improve sampling methods

A

Randomly select a sample area with random coordinates

Sample many times to collect a mean

Use a standardised technique ( same size pitfall trap etc)

Sample area at different times of the day/year

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32
Q

What is used to estimate population sizes

A

Mark-release recapture

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33
Q

What is the issue with mark-release-recapture

A

Assumes samples are representative of the whole population
Assumes organisms mix evenly
Assumes there has been no immigration
Assumes there has not been many births or deaths

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34
Q

What needs to be done before sampling living organisms

A

An environmental impact assessment

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35
Q 
What is used to measure:
A) wind speed
B) light 
C) humidity
D) pH
E) temperature
F) conc of O2 in water
A 
A) anemometer 
B) light meter
C) humidity sensor
D) ph probe
E) temperature probe
F) dissolved oxygen probe
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36
Q

What is used to find species diversity

A

Simpsons diversity index

37
Q

What the formula for species diversity index

A

1-(sum of(number of each species/ number of organisms in total)^2)

38
Q

Why is a high diversity better than a low one

A

If a change in environment affects one species, and that one species dominates the habitat, and this species dies, the whole habitat will be affected and may not recover.

39
Q

What can scientists do to determine long term survival of the species

A

Calculate the genetic biodiversity

40
Q

What increases genetic diversity

A

Differences in alleles
Mutations in DNA
Gene flow ( interbreeding between different populations)

41
Q

Name factors that decrease genetic biodiversity

A

1) selective breeding
2) captive breeding programmes in zoos
3) rare breeds
4) artificial cloning
5) natural selection
6) genetic bottlenecks
7) founder effect (when a new colony is created the gene pool is very small)
8) genetic drift ( certain alleles disappearing)

42
Q

How can scientists quantify genetic diversity

A

Polymorphism

43
Q

What is a polymorphic genes

A

Genes that have more than one alleles

44
Q

What is the name where a single allele exists for a gene

A

Monomorphic

45
Q

What does the locus of a gene refer to

A

The position of the gene on the chromosome

46
Q

Define endangered species

A

Population critically low due to humans, species close to being extinct

47
Q

Define critically endangered

A

Likely to go extinct, numbers are not sustainable and too low for the survival of the species

48
Q

What are the main problems humans are causing in regard to biodiversity

A

Deforestation
Agriculture
Climate change

49
Q

How does deforestation reduce biodiversity

A

It directly reduces the number of trees present in an area
If only a specific type of tree is felled that species is reduced
Destroys habitat and food source
Animals forced to migrate

50
Q

How does agriculture reduce biodiversity

A

Removal of hedgerows (destroys habitat)
Use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, reduces species diversity
Use of monoculture- only planting one species

51
Q

Why are hedgerows good

A

Food and shelter to important species
Control water levels and run off
Pest control as predators live in them
Pollination of crops by insects

52
Q

What is the greenhouse effect

A

Where the short wavelength hits the earth, is reflected back but with a longer wavelength so some of it gets reflected again by the atmosphere

53
Q

What is contributing to the greenhouse effect

A

Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation (removing trees which remove CO2)
Cattle and rice fields (produces methane)

54
Q

What are the consequences of climate change

A
  • melting ice caps- removing a habitat- forcing extinction on the inhabitants
  • rising sea levels= flooding, destruction of habitat
  • higher temperatures and less rainfall results in some species failing to survive
  • insect life cycles will change and so will pollination patterns
  • disease being able to survive the winter
55
Q

Name a plant species that flooding will cause to go extinct

A

Mangrove swamps which depend on their roots being out of water to obtain oxygen

56
Q

How may fish go extinct by climate change

A

Some species stop growing once a certain temperature is reached
If this is before reproductive age or before they weigh enough to survive winter- could go extinct

57
Q

What are the three groups as to why we should maintain biodiversity

A
  • aesthetic
  • economic reasons
  • ecological
58
Q

What are the aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A

Enrichment of lives- relaxing on a beach/ walking in woodland

  • provides inspiration for people
  • people recover more quickly when supported by plant and natural environment
59
Q

What are the economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A
  • soil erosion and desertification affect the countries ability to produce crops- become dependent on other countries
  • non sustainable removal of resources will reduce in collapse of industry
  • species which may have medical or chemical value will go extinct
  • ecotourism
60
Q

What are the ecological reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A

Organisms are part of a food chain and are interdependent , if one goes extinct, could trigger a chain reaction

Keystone species, play a key role in , maintaining structure of an ecological community, when removed habitat alters

61
Q

Give 2 examples of a keystone species, what makes them special

A

-Prairie dogs

Provide food source and burrows for other animals
Tunnelling aerated the soil
Faeces adds nutrients to soil

-star fish

Eat mussels and sea urchins
Creates a balanced ecosystem

62
Q

What does in situ mean

Give an example

A

Conservation of a species in its natural habitat

Marine conservation zones
Wildlife reserves

63
Q

What are the advantages of in situ

A
  • habitat conserved along with all organisms within the habitat
  • biodiversity of the whole area is maintained
  • cheaper just needs managing
  • allows evolution to continue
64
Q

What are the disadvantages of in situ

A
  • large amounts of land needed
  • local people may still hunt
  • animals may leave reserve
  • hard to control disease, fire etc
65
Q

What do in situ conservation charities do

A

Purchase of land
National campaigns
Lobby government
Educate and make public aware

66
Q

What does a wildlife reserve do

A

Control grazing
Restrict human access
Control poaching
Culling removing invasive

67
Q

What do marine conservation zones do

A

Preserve species rich areas such as coral reefs

They create areas of refuge within which populations can build up

68
Q

How many national parks in the UK

A

14

69
Q

Define Ex situ reserves

A

Conservation of a species by removal of the organism from its natural habitat

70
Q

Give three examples of ex situ

A

Botanic gardens
Seed banks
Captive breeding programmes

71
Q

Describe botanic gardens

A

Plant species are actively managed

Provided with the best resources to grow

72
Q

What is the problem of botanic garden

A

Many wild relatives of selectively bred species are still under represented

73
Q

Describe seed banks

A

A gene bank- storage of genetic material
Used to store temperate and tropical seeds
Seeds will remain viable for centuries
Used as a back up against the extinction of wild plants

74
Q

What does viability mean

A

Keeping seeds healthy

75
Q

What is the problem of seed banks

A

Could be wiped out by power failure or natural disaster

76
Q

What are the main advantages of seed banks

A

Plants can be researched on site
Easy and cheap to transport
Can be collected without disturbing the habitat

77
Q

What are the disadvantages of seed banks

A

Collection of wild seeds will cause some disturbance
Asexual breeding means clones (genetically identical)
Seeds stored of ra long time might not grow

78
Q

What is the aim of captive breeding programmes

A

Once a stable healthy population of a species and then gradually reintroduce them back into the wild

79
Q

What is a problem of captive breeding

A

They do not evolve within their environment

80
Q

How are individuals selected

A

They must be not related, health and of reproductive age and from several different backgrounds to increase genetic variation

81
Q

What must happen before the animals are released

A

They are quarantined

82
Q

Where are animals released to

A

A protected reserve with a method of monitoring the population
Major threats have been removed

83
Q

What will the zoos and aquariums do before releasing animals

A

Store there eggs and sperm so if species number falls, they can repopulate

84
Q

Why may some organisms born in captivity not be suitable for release in the wild

A

Might not be resistant to local disease
Some behaviour must be learnt
Stress on habitat. Individuals may fight for territory

85
Q

What are some of the pros of ex situ rather than in situ

A

Protection from hunting
Breeding can be manipulated
Species can be treated for disease
Reduced competition

86
Q

What are some disadvantages of ex situ with animals

A

Small gene pool for breeding
Have to raise money through funding
Capturing the species for conservation is difficult
Affect on wild population size

87
Q

Give an example of an international agreement made to protect species and habitats

A

The Rio convention, 172 nations
Three agreements were reached:
-convention of biological diversity (develop national strategies)
-United Nations framework convention on climate change (stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations within atmosphere)
-United Nations convention to combat desertification (reduce the affects of drought)

88
Q

Give an example of local agreements

A

Countryside stewardship scheme

89
Q

Describe the countryside stewardship scheme

A

Farmers were given government payments to enhance and conserve English landscape

Aims: to restore neglected land, sustain diversity of landscape

A Level: Biology (18 decks)

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