biodiversity & classification

Question 1

biodiversity

Answer 1

variety of all living species within an ecosystem

Question 2

quadrat surveying

Answer 2

using quadrats

identifies distribution & abundance

prone to missing certain areas of the habitat

Question 3

line surveying

Answer 3

using lines

identifies changes along an environmental gradient

unable to account for abundance

Question 4

belt surveying

Answer 4

using quadrats & lines

identifies distribution & abundance

identifies changes along an environmental gradient

time-consuming

Question 5

random sampling

Answer 5

random - through arbitrary pre-determined placement

random number generated quadrats

Question 6

systematic sampling

Answer 6

ordered - through a transect at intervals

line transect or belt transect

Question 7

stratified sampling

Answer 7

separate - through zones

zonation (horizontal division) or stratification (vertical division)

Question 8

species richness

Answer 8

number of species present

Question 9

percentage cover

Answer 9

proportion of area sampled covered by a species (%)

Question 10

percentage frequency

Answer 10

number of times a species appears within the quadrats sampled (%)

Question 11

relative abundance / species evenness

Answer 11

number of individuals of a species in relation to the total number of individuals (%)

Question 12

simpson’s diversity index

Answer 12

0 - 1 scale

↑SDI = ↑biodiversity

Question 13

environmental factors’ (biotic & abiotic) limitation on distribution & abundance of species

Answer 13

biotic - prey availability determines where predators are found (distribution) & how many are present (abundance)

abiotic - distribution is an organism’s tolerance range & abundance is an organism’s optimal range

Question 14

linnaean classification system

Answer 14

morphological features

hierarchical structure

domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

binomial nomenclature

Question 15

r-strategists

Answer 15

high reproductive rate

short lives

quick sexual maturity

short gestation period

minimal off-spring care

unstable habitats

Question 16

K-strategists

Answer 16

low reproductive rate

long lives

slow sexual maturity

long gestation period

intensive off-spring care

stable habitats

Question 17

asexual reproduction

Answer 17

one organism involved

mitosis

no sex cells

two or more off-spring

efficient but lack of variation (genetically identical) & ability to adapt

Question 18

sexual reproduction

Answer 18

two organisms involved

meiosis

sex cells

one or more offspring

inefficient but genetically diverse & able to adapt

Question 19

interspecies competition

Answer 19

competition between members of different species

Question 20

intraspecies competition

Answer 20

competition between members of the same species

Question 21

predation (predator-prey)

Answer 21

one species kills & eats the other species

Question 22

symbiotic relationship

Answer 22

long-term interspecific interaction where different species live together

Question 23

parasitism

Answer 23

a relationship where one species is the host (harmed) & the other is the parasite (benefitted)

e.g. ticks & dogs

Question 24

commensalism

Answer 24

a relationship where one species benefits & the other is unaffected

e.g. remora & sharks

Question 25

mutualism

Answer 25

a relationship where both species benefit

e.g. flowers & bees

Question 26

molecular sequences

molecular phylogeny (cladistics)

Answer 26

sequences of molecules to classify organisms

similar sequences show closer evolutionary relationships & more recent common ancestry

more reliable than physical traits

(DNA, RNA, Proteins)

Question 27

assumptions of cladistics

Answer 27

common ancestor

bifurcation

physical change

Question 28

clade (monophyletic group)

Answer 28

group of organisms consisting of a common ancestor & all its lineal descendants

Question 29

biological species concept

Answer 29

a group of organisms which interbreed under natural conditions to produce fertile off-spring

Question 30

limitations of the biological species concept

Answer 30

fossilized samples cannot reproduce

hybridization between two different species

asexual organisms do not interbreed

Question 31

interspecific hybrid

Answer 31

when two different species breed together to create offspring

usually infertile; therefore, not considered a species

e.g. mule (male donkey x female horse)

Question 32

why is classifying ecosystems an important step towards effective ecosystem management ?

Answer 32

classification enables decisions to be made about its management (different ecosystems have different requirements & priorities)

classification allows stakeholders to fulfill a wide range of values (e.g. aesthetic, economic)

classification supports long-term ecosystem resilience (considering unique ecosystem interactions & human impacts)

Question 33

productive soils characteristics & management techniques

Answer 33

high soil fertility & high water retention

reduce overgrazing & minimize soil erosion

Question 34

old growth forests characteristics & management techniques

Answer 34

old established trees & few invasive species

back-burning & weed management

Question 35

coral reefs characteristics & management techniques

Answer 35

shallow water & biologically diverse

reducing carbon emissions & fishing regulations

Question 36

stratified sampling

Answer 36

purpose : assess vertical vegetation structure by considering the vegetation cover

site selection : sample all strata to represent the vegetative community as a whole

ecological surveying technique : point transect

sampling process : sampling size determined by sampling fraction

minimizing bias : calibration of equipment

data presentation : bar graph with error bars

data analysis : confidence intervals