Chapter 11 - Biodiversity Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

How do you calculate the proportion of polymorphic gene loci?

A

N. of polymorphic gene loci/

Total n. or loci

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Name 3 problems caused by humans

A

Deforestation
Agriculture (monoculture)
Climate change

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What sites stand for climate change? and what does it state?

A

2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) released a report

  • Warming trend over last 50 years
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Why do we need biodiversity ? (6 marks)

A
  1. Aesthetics
    - plants animal enrich our life
    write books
    - recovery from injury
  2. Economic
    - removal of resources
    - Re planting forests
  3. Ecological
    - new plant species for medical research

-maintaining a balanced eco system, we rely on ecosystem to provide oxygen and food

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define biodiversity

A

The variety of living organisms present in an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why is it important to measure biodiversity?

A
  • To provide a baseline for the level of biodiversity in an area (to see effect of climate change)
  • Needed as before a project is done (e.g. new road) an EIA (environ impact assessment) is taken
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Suggest the different types of biodiversity

A
  • Habitat
  • Species
  • Genetic
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe and explain what habitat diversity is

A
  • N. of different habitats found within an area

(e. g. countryside= more habitat rich than farmed county side

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Explain the difference between specie richness and specie evenness

A

Specie richness: n. of different species living in an area

Specie evenness: A comparison of the number of individuals of each species living in a community

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a community?

A

All populations in a habitat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Compare the species richness and evenness in a meadow and a cornfield with 30 species

A

Meadow will have a richer species evenness than cornfield

Meadow will have a richer species richness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is genetic biodiversity?

A

The variety of genes that make up a specie

-Leads to different characteristics being expressed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why is sampling used?

A

To estimate the number of organisms in a area without having to count them all

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the abundance?

A

The n. of individuals of a species present in an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Name the types of non-random sampling

A

Opportunistic
Stratified
Systematic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Suggest how Claire can randomly sample the number of flowers in a field

A
  • Mark out a grid using 2 tape measures at 90
  • Use a random number generator to generate an x and y co-ordinate
  • Take a sample at each co-ordinate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe what opportunistic sampling entails

A

Using organisms that are available at your convenience

  • Weakest form of sampling because may not be representative of whole population
  • A lot of bias involved
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Suggest how one would carry take samples using a stratified method

A
  • Divide the population into small sub-groups based on characteristics (e.g. male & female)
  • Random sample is taken from each of the sub-groups proportional to its size
  • Bias is introduced when having to categorize organisms into groups
  • Usually reflects the whole population
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is systematic sampling?

A
  • Identify the different areas within an overall habitat and sample separately
  • Use a belt transect which are 2 parallel lines which are marked and samples are taken in btwn the lines

or a line transect - mark a line along the ground between 2 poles and take samples at specific points along the line

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe and explain 2 factors that decrease the reliability of a sample

A
  1. Sampling bias (e.g. can take sample of area that looks more appealing)
    +Reduced by using random sampling
  2. Chance (organisms selected may not be representative of the whole population)

+ can’t be completely taken away but reduced by using a larger sample size

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Suggest a method to catch small flying insects

A

-Pooter
Suck on mouthpiece, insect is drawn into the holding chamber via inlet tube

Filter before mouthpiece prevents going into mouth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Crickets are small insects that live in long grass, devise a sampling equipment to sample them

A

Sweep net

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What instrument is used to catch small crawling insects (e.g. slugs/spiders)

A

Pitfall traps

  • hole is dug in group, deep enough so can’t crawl out
  • Covered with w glass so doesn’t fill w water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How would a student take a sample of invertebrates living in a tree or a bush?

A

Tree beating

  • Stretch large white cloth under tree
  • Shake tree
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What method can one use to sample organisms in a river bank?

A

Kick sampling

  • River band and bed is kicked to disturb the substrate
  • Net is held downstream to catch
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Name the 2 types of quadrats

A

Point Quadrat- bar where long pins are pushed through the bar to reach group

Frame Quadrat: frame divided into grid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What outcome can you calculate from a frame quadrat?

A

Density
-Count n. per 1m by 1m square quadrat (gives you density per square meter)

Frequency

  • Used where indivi members are hard to count
  • Can be used in a percentage

Percentage cover

  • Speed
  • Estimate by eye of an area
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What may increase the reliability of the sample

A

-Taking at different points

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What technique can be used to estimate the population size?

A

Capture-mark- release

  • Capturing as many individuals in an area as possible, mark & release
  • Time is allowed for organisms to redistribute
  • Comparison of the marked and unmarked in second sample
  • Greater the n. of marked recaptured the smaller the size
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

How and what are the units of the following a biotic factors

Wind speed
Light intensity
Relative humidity
pH
Temperature
Oxygen content
A
Anemometer (ms-1)
Light meter (lx)
Humidity sensor (mg dm-3)
pH Probe (pH)
temp probe 
Dissolved oxygen probe (mg dm-3)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What are the advantages of using sensors to measure abiotic factors?

A
  • Detection of rapid changes
  • Human error in taking reading is reduced
  • High degree of precision
  • Data can be stored in computer
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

How can we measure biodiversity?

A

Simpson’s index of diversity
D= 1- Sum(n/N) 2

N= total n. of organisms of all species

n=Total n. of organisms of a particular species

0= No diversity
1=Diverse

33
Q

State one advantage of using the Simpson index of biodiversity

A

It takes into account the number of individuals present

34
Q

Within the species there is (little/ a lot) of genetic variation

A

Little

35
Q

What are alleles?

A

Different versions of the same genes

36
Q

Why is having a greater genetic variation advantageous?

A
  • Species able to adapt to changes
  • Less likely to become extinct
  • Survive in altered conditions
37
Q

Suggest ways in which the genetic variation of a population can increase

A

Mutations- Creating new alleles

Interbreeding between diff populations- alleles are transferred (GENE FLOW)

38
Q

Suggest factors that decrease the number of alleles in a population (8 marks)

A

Selective breeding - only few individuals are selected according to their advantageous charac

Captive breeding- Only small n. are available for breeding

Rare breeds- When selective breeding has been used previously to produce a breed of domestic animal w characteristic which has then become less pop

Artificial cloning

Natural selection-Over time alleles coding for less advantageous charac will be lost

Genetic bottlenecks

The founder effect

Genetic drift

39
Q

Explain genetic bottleneck

A

Where few individuals within a population survive an event or change, reducing the gene pool

Only alleles of survivors are available

40
Q

What is the founder effect?

A

Where a small n. of individuals create a new colony hence gene pool is small

41
Q

Explain genetic drift

A

Due to random nature of alleles being passed on from parents

Frequency of alleles can vary

42
Q

What is a polymorphic gene

A

Genes that have more than one allele (e.g. immunoglobin - blood type)
I(A)- antigen A
I(B) - antigen B
I(o)- Neither

43
Q

What are monomorphic genes?

A

Single allele exists for a gene

Ensures basic structure of individuals remains constant

44
Q

How can the proportion of polymorphic genes be measured?

A

Total n. of loci

Greater the proportion of polymorphic gene loci the greater the the biodiversity

45
Q

Suggest how humans have influenced the biodiversity

A

Deforestation- Permanent removal of trees to produce fuel

Agriculture- Land farming, reduces large n. of habitats

Climate change- Release of CO2 increases temp= ice caps melt

46
Q

Suggest how deforestation can affect biodiversity

A
  • Directly reduces n. of trees in an area
  • If only a specific type of tree is logged the specie diversity decreases
  • Reduces n. of animal species present in an area as it destroy habitat
  • Animals forced to migrate to other areas = biodiversity of other habitats increase
47
Q

Explain how agriculture can lead to a decrease in biodiversity

A

Deforestation

Removal of hedgerows- to enable machines to pass, reducing n. of plant species present in an area and destroys habitat

Chemical pesticides/herbicides reduces specie diversity also indirectly destroys the food source of other organisms

Herbicides that kill weed, plant diversity decr, & removes food source

Monoculture
Relatively few animal species are supportive of one type of plant

48
Q

Explain the key finding in the report released in 2007 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

A
  1. Warming trend over the last 50 years is nearly 2x that of previous 100 years
  2. Average amount of water vapour in the atmosphere has increased
    - Since 1961 average temp of oceans 3km down has increased, absorbs a lot of heat
  3. Global average sea level rose 1.8mm per year
  4. Average artic temp has increased almost 2x global avrage
  5. Mountain glaciers and snow cover has decreased
  6. Long term increase in amount of precipitation
49
Q

Since the global temperatures increase naturally what evidence is there to support climate change

A

The increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere which trap more thermal energy

50
Q

How is biodiversity affected if global warming continues?

A
  • Melting of polar ice caps could lead to extinction of plants and animal species
  • Rising sea levels from melting ice caps and thermal expansion of oceans = low lying land is flooded = reducing habitats of fresh water
  • Higher temperatures and less rainfall= some species die out * xerophytes become dominant = some animal species die bc were dependant on food
  • Insect life cycles and populations will change bc they adapt (if range of insect changes the survival of plant)
  • Insect carry many plant and animal pathogens, if tropical insects spread
51
Q

Suggest aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A
  • Enhances our lives
  • Nature provides inspiration for musicians or writers
  • Patients recover faster from injury when in presence of nature
52
Q

Suggest economical reasons that the government maintains the biodiversity (8 marks)

A
  • Soil erosion and desertification can occur from deforestation = decrease in crop yield therefore less food for people = more dependable
  • We use the raw materials to make resources such as hardwood= not sustaining this leads to collapse of industry
  • Large scale of habitat losses may mean that undiscovered plants which may be of use (e.g. medically) could be destroyed
  • Farmers become increasingly dependant on herbicides and fertilisers because of continuous monoculture which results in soil depletion (crop takes out same nutrients from soil )
  • High biodiversity provides protection against abiotic stresses (e.g. extreme weather)
  • High biodiverse areas provide an attractive environment= more tourism
  • Greater diversity the greater potential for the manufacturing of different products in the future
  • More biodiverse plant= more varieties for plants to cross breed= could be more resistant
53
Q

Explain ecological reasons why maintaining biodiversity is important

A
  • All organisms are interdependent on others for survival, e.g. food source
  • Keystone species
54
Q

What are keystone species?

A

Species that have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance

  • When removed all other species are affected
  • Sea stars, american alligators, prairie dogs
55
Q

What is in situ and ex situ conservation

A

In situ- within the natural habitat

Ex situ- out of the natural habitat

56
Q

Describe the classification of species for the purpose of conservation

A

Extinct- no organisms of the species exist anywhere in the world

Extinct in the wild- only exist in captivity

Endangered- a species that is in danger of extinction

Vulnerable- considered likely to become endangered in future

57
Q

What is sustainable development?

A

Economic development that meets the needs of people without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs

58
Q

Suggest advantages of in situ conservation

A
  • Maintains genetic diversity of species and the evolutionary adaptions
  • By allowing the endangered species to interact w others preserves the interdependent relationships (interlinked species also preseved)
  • Cheaper
59
Q

State examples of in situ conservation

A

Marine (salt water), aquatic and terrestrial (land) reserves

60
Q

Suggest which management techniques can be used in in situ conservation

A
  • Controlled grazing (only allowing livestock to graze in particular areas to allow species time to recover)
  • Restricting human access (e.g. not allowing tourists to visit during seal reproduction season)
  • Controlled poaching (creating defences to prevent access)
  • Feeding animals (ensure more organisms survive to reproductive age)
  • Reintroduce species ( adding species to areas that have become locally extinct)
  • Culling or removal of invasive species
  • Halting succession
61
Q

What is succession?

A

a natural process in which early colonising species are replaced over time until stable mature population is achieved

62
Q

Explain why marine reserves are important and give one example

A
  • Preserving species e.g. coral reef which help against sea bank erosion
  • Create areas where populations can build up
  • Lundy island
63
Q

Explain the use of botanic gardens

A
  • Species can be grown successfully having their optimum soil nutrients, temperature and water
  • 1500 botanical gardens worldwide
64
Q

Suggest and explain an example of a gene bank

A

seed banks
-Dried and stored at low temp to maintain their viability

-To slow down germination

65
Q

Suggest and explain the function of captive breeding programmes

A
  • Produce offspring of species in a human-controlled environment
  • Run by zoos & aquatic centres
  • Aim to create a stable, healthy population of species then reintroduce them back into habitat
  • Arabian Oryx is expm
  • Provides animals w shelter, food, and absence of predators & vetenary treatment
  • Suitable breeding partners which can be imported (semen)
66
Q

Suggest a disadvantage to captive breeding programmes

A

-Maintaining genetic diversity is hard, only a small n. of breeding partners are available

+catalogue is kept w details on every organism

+Artificial insemination & embryo transfer allows fertilisation without transporting organism

67
Q

Why might some organisms born in captivity not be suitable to be released into the wild?

A

Diseases- loss of resistance to local diseases in captive bred programmes (or new diseases which they haven’t developed resistance)

Behaviour- some is innate but much is learned through experience, sometimes become domesticated (food is hidden for them to find in cages)

Genetic races- genetic make-up of captive animals can become too different from OG population that they can’t interbreed

Habitat- Many cases the natural habitat has to be restored for them to go back. Needs to be large enough so individuals don’t fight over limited territory

68
Q

Which organisation publishes a red list each year?

A

International Union for the conservation of nature (IUCN)

-List details current conservation status of threatend animals

69
Q

What agreement has the IUCN established

A

The convention of international trade in endangered species (CITES)

  • Treaty regulates the international trade of wild animal and plant species
  • More than 35000 species of a & p are protected by treaty
70
Q

What did the Earth summit of 1992 result in?

A
  • The convention on biological diversity (CBD) requires countries to develop national strategies for sustainable development
  • The united nation framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) agreement between nations to take steps to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations
  • The united nations convention to combat desertification (UNCCD) prevents the transformation of fertile land into desert
71
Q

Name and explain an example of a local conservation scheme

A

Countryside stewardship scheme

-Offered governmental payments to farmers to enhance landscape

Aims:
-Sustain the beauty and diversity of the landscape

  • Improve, extend and create wildlife habitats
  • Restore neglected land and conserve archaeological and historical features
  • Improve opportunities for countryside enjoyment
72
Q

Suggest how captive breeding programmes in 6 zoos ensures that genetic diversity is maintained in this species (18 individuals) (5 marks)

A
  • 18 individuals is small population = small gene pool
  • Captive breeding programme will increase population
  • Records are kept of breeding programme
  • Zoos selects mates
  • Interzoo exchange of animals for breeding
  • To prevent inbreeding
  • Avoiding genetic drift
  • Use of IVF
  • Process of measuring genetic diversity (e.g. DNA profiling)
73
Q

What is an endemic specie?

A

A specie found in one geographical location

74
Q

Why might an organisation do a captive breeding programme?

A
  • Population in the wild is falling
  • Loss of habitat as a result of natural disaster
  • Breeding programmes will increase n.
  • Idea that it would enable reintroduction into the wild
  • endemic to one specific area (e.g endangered)
  • Conserving species that may face extinction
75
Q

Suggest why many scientists consider that the use of protected reserves is likely to be more successful for the conservation of some animals than captive breeding programmes in zoos

A
  • Less discomfort
  • More likely to breed in natural environments
  • Animals may require large areas
  • Problem of releasing animal back into wild is avoided
  • Allows natural intraspecific family behaviour
  • Natural diet
  • Large numbers of animals need wider gene pool
76
Q

Suggest how the time of death of a white rhinoceros can be determined if it is discovered several days after being killed

A
  1. Succession
  2. Forensic science
  3. Measure the decomposition
  4. Decay, production of gases
  5. Measure the rate of succession
  6. Insect and decomposition information to determine
  7. Insects e.g. beetles, wasps
77
Q

Describe what the seedbank will do with species to ensure the long-term conservation

A
  1. Only select seeds with living embryo
  2. Cleans the seeds to prevent any bacteria
  3. Dry the seeds
  4. Store at low temperatures
  5. Regularly test the viability
  6. If viability decreases get new seeds
78
Q

Give 2 differences between genetic diversity and species richness

A

GD considers one species but SR considers different numbers

GD considers alleles but SR is within a habitat