Biodiversity, species and taxonomy

Question 1

the genetic diversity between or within species can be made by comparing what factors. (4)

Answer 1

1- the frequency of measurable or observable characteristics
2- the base sequence of DNA
3- the base sequence of mRNA
4- the amino acid sequence of the proteins encoded by DNA and mRNA

Question 2

define biodiversity and genetic diversity

Answer 2

-the number of species and the number of individuals of each of the (different) species within any one community
-difference in DNA / base sequence / alleles / genes

Question 3

define species richness

Answer 3

the number of different species in a community

Question 4

define a community

Answer 4

all the individuals of all the species living together in the same area at the same time

Question 5

define the word species

Answer 5

• group of similar organisms with the same genes
• reproduce to produce fertile off springs

Question 6

define niche and habitat

Answer 6

-niche is an organisms role /in the ecosystem / community
-habitat is a place where an organism normally lives within an ecosystem

Question 7

what information is required to calculate an index of diversity for a particular community.

Answer 7

number of species
number of individuals in each species

Question 8

the number of species present is one way to measure biodiversity.
Explain why an index of diversity may be a more useful measure of biodiversity.

Answer 8

-also measures number of individuals of each species
-some species may be present in low/high numbers

Question 9

give 2 advantages of using an index of biodiversity rather than an indicator species

Answer 9

• you do not need to identify each species
• index considers the number of organisms of each of the species

Question 10

suggest one economic argument for maintaining biodiversity

Answer 10

1- medical/ pharmaceutical uses
2- commercial products
3- tourism
4- agriculture
5- saving local forest communities

Question 11

a forest was cleared to make land available for agriculture.
after the forest was cleared the species diversity of insects in the area decreased.explain why

Answer 11

1- decrease in variety of plants
2- fewer habitats
3- fewer food sources
4- aspect of clearing forest (killing insects)
eg. machinery, pesticides

Question 12

farmers clear tropical forest and grow crops instead.
Explain how this causes the diversity of insects in the area to decrease.

Answer 12

1- lower diversity of plants
2- few food sources
3- few habitats
4- fewer species of herbivores so few species of carnivores
5- aspect of agriculture (killing insects)

Question 13

binomial naming system

Answer 13

the first word - Genus name
the second word - species name

Question 14

what are the 8 levels of the classification system

Answer 14

Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 15

explain what is meant by hierarchy

Answer 15

• groups within groups
• no overlap b/w groups

Question 16

what is phylogenetics

Answer 16

-the study of patterns of evolutionary history
- all organisms evolved form shared common ancestors

Question 17

why do organisms display courtship behaviour

Answer 17

to attract a mate of the same species and opposite sex to ensure reproductive success

Question 18

give two ways in which courtship increases the probability of successful mating

Answer 18

1- attracts the same species
2- attracts the opposite sex
3- synchronises mating
4- stimulates release of gametes
5- form pair bond