Biodiversity

Question 1

Biodiversity is an umbrella term, what does it mean?

Answer 1

Different types of biological diversities from local to global scales, both genetic and biochemical, from local habitats to whole biomes.

Question 2

What is a secondary compound?

Answer 2

A metabolite which has no direct involvement in growth or reproduction.

Question 3

The secondary compound of the bark from Cinchona tree poppies is alkaloids, give an example of an alkaloid and their use.

Answer 3

Quinine and morphine are common alkaloids with the use of anti-malarial drugs and potent painkillers.

Question 4

Decreasing biodiversity has what effect on our supply of secondary compounds?

Answer 4

The supply decreases as we have less organisms to take the compounds from.

Question 5

The secondary compound of Palm trees is Palm oil, what is the use of this (and other) oils?

Answer 5

Palm oil is a common bio-fuel.

Question 6

Many fruits and vegetables have a secondary compound of pigments such as carotene, what are the uses of these secondary compounds in society?

Answer 6

Food colourings.

Question 7

What is the secondary compound found in Rubber trees such as the Hevea spp. and what is the use of this compound in modern society?

Answer 7

Polyisoperenes such as rubber are used to manufacture tyres and other products.

Question 8

What is species richness?

Answer 8

The number of (different) species present in a habitat.

Question 9

What is species evenness index?

Answer 9

The relative abundance with which each species is represented in an area.

Question 10

What is the indicator of global biodiversity?

Answer 10

The living planet index (LPI).

Question 11

What was the baseline year for the living planet index and what score was it given?

Answer 11

1970, given 1.0 as it was the baseline and therefore the reference year.

Question 12

What was the living planet index for 2008 and what does this suggest about biodiveristy?

Answer 12

0.72 meaning there was a 28 percent decrease meaning biodiversity has decreased dramatically.

Question 13

What is the most commonly used measure of biodiversity?

Answer 13

A species diversity index, such as the Simpson species diversity index.

Question 14

What is the function of the Simpson species diversity index?

Answer 14

It expresses diversity as a single number, calculated using the number of species present (richness) and the abundance of each species.

Question 15

Which two factors are considered in the Simpson species diversity index?

Answer 15

Calculated using both the number of species present (richness) and the abundance of each species.

Question 16

Which type of sampling are species diversity index’s dependant on?

Answer 16

Random sampling.

Question 17

Generally speaking, in which environments are species diversity greater in?

Answer 17

Those with less demanding abiotic conditions or lower pollution levels.

Question 18

Where is The Ecotron?

Answer 18

Berkshire, England.

Question 19

What is The Ecotron?

Answer 19

Consists of 16 small communities of microorganisms, plants, and animals housed in separate walk-in environmental chambers.

Question 20

How are the climactic conditions in each chamber in The Ecotron controlled?

Answer 20

Computer controlled.

Question 21

In 1993, scientists use The Ecotron to study the effect of species diversity on functioning of a whole ecosystem, what did they find?

Answer 21

Reduced biodiversity leads to reduced community productivity and other changes.

Question 22

Who can use The Ecotron?

Answer 22

It is open to the whole of the UK’s scientific community.

Question 23

What is a weakness of the Simpson species diversity index?

Answer 23

It makes no allowance for differences in size of individuals; one elephant is treated the same as one bacterium.
It is also hard with plants to decide what constitutes an individual plant.

Question 24

What measure is often used as an indicator of ecological stability?

Answer 24

The Simpson species diversity index as the assumption is the greater the diversity, the greater the stability.

Question 25

Resistance (Definition:)

Answer 25

The ability of an ecosystem to resist change following a disturbance.

Question 26

Resilience (Definition:)

Answer 26

The ability of the ecosystem to return to its original state after being changed.

Question 27

Local stability (Definition:)

Answer 27

The tendency of a community to return to its original state after a small disturbance.

Question 28

Global stability (Definition:)

Answer 28

The tendency of a community to return to its original state after a large disturbance.

Question 29

What 4 concepts are associated with stability of species diversity?

Answer 29

• Resistance;
• Resilience;
• Local stability;
• Global stability.