Chapter 11 - Biodiversity Flashcards

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1
Q

Define abiotic

A

Non living

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2
Q

Define biodiversity

A

Variety of living organisms present in an area

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3
Q

Define species

A

Smallest + most specific taxomic group

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4
Q

How can biodiversity be assessed

A

o The number and range of different ecosystems and habitats

o The number of species and their relative abundance

o The genetic variation within each species

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5
Q

What is habitat diversity

A

• range of different ecosystems or habitats within a particular area or region

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6
Q

What is species richness

A

number of species within an ecosystem

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7
Q

What is species diversity

A

number of different species in an ecosystems + the evenness of abundance across the different species present

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8
Q

What is species evenness

A

evenness of abundance across the different species present

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9
Q

What will increase the species diversity

A

greater the number of species in an ecosystem + more evenly distributed the number of individuals from each species

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10
Q

How can an ecosystem have a lot of different species but not have a high species diversity

A

some species may be very rare in ecosystem = does not necessarily have high species diversity

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11
Q

A more stable ecosystem…

A

high species diversity

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12
Q

Why does a low species diversity make an unstable ecosystem

A

If pathogen targets one of the species = whole population could be wiped out + ecosystem collapses

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13
Q

What is genetic diversity

A

diversity of alleles and genes in the genome of species

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14
Q

How to measure genetic diversity

A

by working out the proportion of genes that have more than one form (allele) + how many possible alleles each gene has

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15
Q

Why may there be genetic differences between populations of the same species

A

because the two populations occupy slightly different ranges in their habitat = subject to different selection pressures = affect the allele frequencies in their populations

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16
Q

Why is genetic diversity within a single population important

A

help the population adapt to, and survive, changes in the environment

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17
Q

Negatives of inbreeding

A

leads to a high proportion of individuals being homozygous (e.g. AA to aa) for many genes, resulting in lower genetic diversity

o This can mean that genetic diseases caused by recessive alleles can become more common in these populations

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18
Q

What is sampling

A

a method of investigating the abundance and distribution of species and populations

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19
Q

Two types of sampling

A

o Random
o Non-random

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20
Q

What is random sampling used for

A

to estimate the distribution and abundance of species

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21
Q

What is the distribution of a species

A

how it is spread throughout the ecosystem

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22
Q

What is the abundance of a species

A

number of individuals of that species

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23
Q

How to carry our random sampling - Quadrats

A
  • Use Quadrats
  • convert sampling area into grid
  • use random number generator = quadrats
  • record abundance / percentage cover
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24
Q

What are Quadrats used for

A

suitable for sampling plants or slow-moving animals

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25
Q

Other methods for sampling

A
  • sweep nets
  • pitfall traps
  • pooters
  • tullgreen funnel
  • kick sampling
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26
Q

Sweep nets

A

large, strong nets with a fine material (very small holes) that are used to catch flying insects and insects that live in long grass by sweeping the net back and forth through the grass

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27
Q

Pitfall trials

A

cans or jars that are buried in the ground that are used to catch ground-dwelling (often nocturnal) insects and other invertebrates as they fall into the trap

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28
Q

Modification in pitfall

A
  • canopy = stop trap filling with water
  • newspaper / leaves = allow smaller insects to hide from predatory ones
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29
Q

Pooters

A

small plastic or glass containers with two tubes sticking out that are used to suck up small insects and other small invertebrates

first tube is placed over the insect and the second tube is used by the scientist to create suction

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30
Q

Tullgren funnel

A

funnels with a light bulb above and a container below that are used to collect invertebrates that live in leaf litter or soil.

leaf litter / soil is placed in the funnel and the light and heat forces the invertebrates to move down until they drop into the container

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31
Q

Kick sampling

A

used to catch freshwater invertebrates living in streams or rivers.

net placed on the stream-bed so that the water is flowing into it and the stream-bed just above the net is kicked

invertebrates are carried by the stream into the net

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32
Q

Types of non random sampling

A

• Opportunistic
• Stratified
• Systematic

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33
Q

Opportunistic

A

• choosing sampling locations based on various non-random factors = most convenient

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34
Q

Stratified sampling

A

• population is divided into subgroups or strata based on certain characteristic.. The subgroups are then sampled in proportion to their size or importance in the population = random within each strata

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35
Q

Systematic sampling

A

• method of sampling where every nth member of a population is selected for inclusion in the sample. The sampling interval or “n” is determined by dividing the population size by the desired sample size = random or non random? = no patterns in the data

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36
Q

How to do Quadrats non randomly

A

Using transects

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37
Q

How to use line transects

A

o Lay out a measuring tape in a straight line across the sample area
o At equal distances along the tape, record the identity of the organisms that touch the line. For example, every 2m

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38
Q

How to use belt transects

A

o Place quadrats at regular intervals along the tape and record the abundance or percentage cover of each species within each quadrat

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39
Q

What is species richness

A

measure of the number of different species within a given area

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40
Q

Problem with species richness

A

can be a misleading indicator of diversity as it does not take into account the number of individuals of each species

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41
Q

What is spedier evenness

A

• measure of the relative abundance of the different species within a given area

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42
Q

Why is this an example of the problems with species richness

A

• In the example above , Area 1 and Area 2 both contain 4 tree species

• However, Area 2 is actually dominated by one species and in fact, one of the species is very rare (only one individual)

• Although the two areas have exactly the same species richness, Area 1 has a higher species evenness (and therefore a higher overall species diversity) than Area 2

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43
Q

How to measure species richness

A

count the number of different species present.

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44
Q

How to measure species evenness

A

count the number of different species present and the number of individuals of each species

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45
Q

What is Simpsons index formula

A

You get in exam

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46
Q

What do all the variables mean in Simpsons index

A

• n = total no. of organisms for a single species
• N = total no. of organisms for all species

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47
Q

How to use this formula - careful where the sum of is

A

o Step 1: First calculate n / N for each species

o Step 2: Square each of these values

o Step 3: Add them together and subtract the total from 1

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48
Q

What does it mean if the Simpson index is near 1

A

indicate high levels of biodiversity

49
Q

What does it mean if the Simpson index is near 0

A

low levels of biodiversity

50
Q

What can the Value of D (simpsons index) Fall between

A

0 and 1

51
Q

What is genetic diversity

A

genetic variation in a species

52
Q

How can individuals in the same species have genetic diversity

A

same genes at the same loci – but maybe different alleles of each gene

53
Q

What is loci

A

a specific linear position of a gene on a certain chromosome

54
Q

Define gene pool

A

comprised of all the alleles of all the genes within a species

55
Q

Why is there genetic differences between populations of SAME species

A

• Because two populations occupy slightly different ranges in their habitat and so are subject to slightly different selection pressures that affect the allele frequencies in their populations

56
Q

More genetic diversity…

A

Larger gene pool

57
Q

Why is genetic diversity within a SINGLE population important

A

creates a larger gene pool which can help the population adapt, and survive changes in the environment

58
Q

How is genetic diversity measure

A

• using the proportion of polymorphic gene loci (number of loci that have two or more alleles)

• using the proportion of the population that is heterozygous for any specific gene locus

• using allele richness = number of different alleles that exist for each specific gene

59
Q

What is similar about all three ways of testing genetic diversity

A

ALL 3 – determine whether there are multiple genes at a locus

60
Q

How do you identify the alleles

A

phenotypes / DNA sequences / protein products

61
Q

What is genetic polymorphism

A

occurs when there are two or more alleles present at a single loci

62
Q

What is the frequency of the rarest allele

A

frequency greater than 1% or greater than 5%

63
Q

What is a monomorphic locus

A

one that does not have multiple alleles = one allele

64
Q

What is a polymorphic locus

A

one that has multiple alleles

65
Q

Frequency of most common allele

A

frequency less than 95% or 99%

66
Q

What happens if the frequency of an allele is more than 95% or 99%

A

other allele(s) are extremely rare and likely to disappear

67
Q

The equation for calculating the proportion of polymorphic gene loci (P) is:

A

P = number of polymorphic gene loci ÷ total number of loci investigated

68
Q

There are many different registered pedigree dog breeds that exist.

A conservationist stated that the degree of inbreeding that has occurred in some of the older breeds could be problematic as it likely reduces genetic diversity.

Scientists investigated 100 gene loci in 2 different breeds. For breed A (the older breed), 59 out of 100 gene loci were found to be polymorphic at the 0.95 level. For breed B, 87 out of 100 gene loci were found to be polymorphic at the 0.95 level.

Calculate P for both breeds and evaluate whether the results support the conservationist’s statemen

A

Step 1: Calculate P for breed A
P = number of polymorphic gene loci ÷ total number of loci investigated
P = 59 ÷ 100
P = 0.59

Step 2: Calculate P for breed B
P = 87 ÷ 100
P = 0.87

Step 3: Determine if results support the statement
The older breed A has a lower P value than breed B. This suggests that it has lower genetic diversity which could be caused by inbreeding. More studies would need to be carried out on a larger number of breeds in order to prove this statement true.

69
Q

Limitations of the proportion of genetic loci measurement

A

does not illustrate the allele richness of a breed or species

70
Q

What does it mean that the proportion of polymorphic gene loci does not illustrate the allele richness of a breed or species

A

o A study that looked at different blood proteins in dogs found that all genetic loci were polymorphic, P = 1. However, the number of alleles for each gene locus was not the same, it varied from 2 to 1

71
Q

Factors effecting biodiversity

A

• Human population growth
• Agriculture = monoculture
• Climate change

72
Q

Why is the human population growing

A

improved tech = abundance of food = increase birth rate

improved medicine / hygiene = decrease in death rate

73
Q

What is habitat loss

A

plant and animals completely lose their habitats

74
Q

What is habitat fragmentation

A

habitats are divided into small areas - populations living within these separated habitat fragments are more likely to suffer from inbreeding or local extinction

75
Q

How is the human population growth destroying biodiversity

A

Deforestation

Destruction of coral reef = catch fishing

Hunting

76
Q

What is monoculture

A

farms become more specialised + grow only one type of crop

77
Q

What is bad about monoculture

A

o support much lower levels of biodiversity

78
Q

What else is bad about agriculture other than monoculture / land space

A

• Use of fertilisers. / pesticides

79
Q

Why are fertilisers bad

A

leach into waterways, causing eutrophication, which can lead to the death of many aquatic invertebrate and fish species

80
Q

Why are pesticides bad

A

o kill insect pests but also kill many non-target species = bees

81
Q

Why does a compromise need to be made in agriculture

A

Because agriculture has high yield + profit = economically viable

82
Q

How is global warming decreasing biodiversity

A

causing many species to move towards the poles or to higher altitudes

o increasing atmospheric CO₂

83
Q

Why is increasing atmospheric CO₂ bad

A

more CO₂ dissolving in seawater, decreasing its pH (known as ocean acidification). This is negatively affecting organisms that require calcium carbonate for shells

84
Q

Why is many species to move towards the poles or to higher altitudes bad

A

o may not be able to compete with / out-compete species already there = decreased biodiversity

o plants – can’t move or change their distributions fast enough to adapt to increasing temperature and may go extinct

85
Q

What is biodiversity made up of

A

o Genetic diversity
o Species diversity
o Ecosystem diversity

86
Q

Reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A

• Ecological – protecting keystone species + maintaining genetic resource

• Economic – reducing soil depletion

• Aesthetic – protecting landscapes

87
Q

What is a keystone species

A

have a larger impact on the ecosystem than others

88
Q

What happens when a keystone species goes extinct

A

Ecosystem collapses

89
Q

Example of a keystone species - extra

A

e.g – Bush elephants

• They graze in a very extreme way, knocking over and eating several species of tree

• This destruction of vegetation actually helps to maintain the ecosystem

• Elephant dung also provides a habitat for many important fungi and insect species

• When elephants were legally hunted for their ivory, their numbers reduced and scientists observed a major negative impact on the savannah

90
Q

Why is maintaining biodiversity good economically

A

• Making medicines
• Ecotourism – jobs / source of income
• Science + technology

91
Q

Reasons for + explanations table - maintaining biodiversity = no need to memorise common sense just read

A
92
Q

Endangered

A

threatened with extinction

93
Q

In situ

A

conservation carried out in the natural habitat

94
Q

Examples of in situ methods

A

o National parks / marine parks

95
Q

Ex situ

A

conservation outside natural habitat

96
Q

Examples of ex situ

A

o Zoos / botanic gardens / seed banks

97
Q

Characteristics of conserved areas

A

• Human access restricted
• Agriculture / building = regulated
• Hunting prohibited
• Ecotourism

98
Q

What do zoos do

A

Captive breeding = so offspring can release into wild

99
Q

Problems with captive breeding

A

reduce genetic diversity

100
Q

Why are zoos bad

A

not all zoos can provide adequate habitats

101
Q

What are botanic gardens

A

Plant zoos

102
Q

What do botanic gardens do

A

o use cuttings and seeds collected from the wild to establish a population of the endangered species in captivity

103
Q

How to conserve genetic material

A

Frozen zoos

Seed bank

104
Q

Frozen zoos

A

store genetic material from animals (eggs, sperm, tissue samples etc) at very low temperatures so that they can be kept for a very long time

105
Q

Seed bank

A

drying and storing seeds in a temperature controlled environment

106
Q

Conservation methods - table list

A
107
Q

4 conservation agreements

A

IUCN

CBD

CITES

CSS

108
Q

IUCN stand for

A

• International Union for the Conservation of Nature

109
Q

CBD stand for

A

• Convention on Biological Diversity

110
Q

CITES stand for

A

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna

111
Q

CSS stand for

A

• Countryside Stewardship Scheme

112
Q

IUCN

A

• Role in assessing the conservation status of animal and plant species

113
Q

CBD - three goals

A

o The conservation of biological diversity by use of a variety of different conservation methods

o The sustainable use of biological resources

o The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources

114
Q

CITES - aim

A

to control the trade of endangered species and their associated products

115
Q

CITES - categories

A

o Appendix I : species that are endangered and face the greatest risk of extinction

o Appendix II: species that are not currently endangered or facing extinction, but will be unless trade is closely controlled

o Appendix III: species included at request of the country that is regulating trade of the species and trying to prevent its overexploitation

116
Q

How does CITES conserve

A

Traducing regulations

117
Q

CSS

A

1980s = provided funding to farmers + private landowners in England who used environmental management strategies to protect + increase the natural biodiversity on their land

118
Q

ESS

A

CSS replaced with Environmental Stewardship Scheme = 2005