biodiversity and factors affecting it

Question 1

what biodiversity

Answer 1

describes the variety and variability of all living organisms within ecological area

can be used to refer to the number of species, alleles/genes or habitat variety

Question 2

at what different levels can biodiversity be considered
explain them

Answer 2

species diversity- number of different species in a given area (species richness)
-proportions of the community that is made up of an individual species (species evenness)

habitat biodiversity- sand dunes, woodland, meadow, streams

genetic biodiversity- variation between individuals of the same species = creates breeds

Question 3

what factors affect biodiversity

Answer 3

-Human population, growth causing an increased demand for food and goods)

-agriculture includes selective breeding

-climate change

Question 4

how does human population impact biodiversity

Answer 4

-increased= need land for agriculture/food and housing
-destroys habitats
-more waste produced
-pollution

Question 5

how does agriculture impact biodiversity

Answer 5

-monoculture
=reduced genetic diversity
-loss of older / wild type strains
-inability to adapt to changing conditions
-subject to disease
-selective breeding

Question 6

how does climate change impact biodiversity

Answer 6

-warmer drier climate
=modern strains/ species not adapted
-rise in sea levels reduced land
-more frequent flooding affects terrestrial ecosystem

Question 7

why is it important to maintain biodiversity

Answer 7

1) interdependence of organisms = keystone species need to be protected as they affect numerous other species

2)genetic resources = loss of useful alleles/ medicinal plants

3)economic - soil depletion = loss of soil fertility due to removal of minerals due to monoculture

4) Aesthetics = deforestation can cause flooding = protecting landscapes