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AS level - Biology > Chapter 11 - Biodiversity > Flashcards

Chapter 11 - Biodiversity Flashcards

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1
Q

Why is biodiversity important?

A

To maintain a balanced and healthy ecosystem.

All species are interconnected and they rely on one another.

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2
Q

How can biodiversity measured?

A

Habitat
Species
Genetic

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3
Q

Habitat biodiversity

A

The greater the habitat biodiversity, the higher species biodiversity.
Tropical countries have the most biodiversity, due to their hot, wet climate.

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4
Q

Species biodiversity

A

Species Richness

Species Evenness

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5
Q

Species Richness

A

Number of different species living in an area.

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6
Q

Species Evenness

A

A comparison of the number of individuals of species living in a community.

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7
Q

Genetic biodiversity

A

Refers to the variety of genes
Different animals have different alleles, so they have different characteristics.
Greater genetic biodiversity allows a better adaptation to a changing environment, and they are likely to stay resistant to disease.

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8
Q

What are the 5 ways to samples animals

A 
Pooter
Sweep nets
Pitfall traps 
Tree beating 
Kick sampling
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9
Q

What are the 2 quadrats

A

Point Quadrat and Frame Quadrat.

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10
Q

Explain point quadrat

A

A frame containing a long pin. Every time it is pushed into the ground, a record of all the plants touched is made.

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11
Q

Explain frame quadrat

A

A square frame divided up into a grid.

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12
Q

Species richness being sampled

A

You should use a combination of techniques. Sometimes, scientists use identification keys to help classify animals.

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13
Q

3 ways to use frame quadrats

A

Density : if individual plants can be seen clearly, this is an absolute measure.
Frequency
% cover

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14
Q

Estimating animal population size

A

Capture- mark- release - capture.

The greater the mark no. of species, the smaller the population.

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15
Q

How to measure wind speed

A

anemometer

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16
Q

How to measure o2 content

A

Dissolved Oxygen probe.

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17
Q

Advantages of sensors

A

Rapid change can be detected.
Human error whilst reading can be reduced.
Higher degree of precision.
Data is stored and tracked.

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18
Q

What is the equation called to calculate biodiversity

A

Simpson’s index of biodiversity

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19
Q

Simpson’s index of biodiversity

A

D = 1 - sum of( n/ N )^2
n: Total no of particular species
N: Total no of organisms of all species.

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20
Q

What do scientists often have to do before they can calculate biodiversity

A

Estimate the population size.

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21
Q

D is a value…

A

Between 0 and 1. 1 means more diverse

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22
Q

What is the nature of environment in an area of low biodiversity

A

Few ecological niches

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23
Q

What is the nature of environment in an area of high biodiversity

A

Many ecological niches

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24
Q

Adaptation of species in an area of low biodiversity

A

Very specific adaptation.

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25
Q

Adaptation of species in an area of high biodiversity

A

Very few adaptations

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26
Q

Effect of change to the environment in an area of low biodiversity

A

Major effect.

27
Q

Effect of change to the environment in an area of high biodiversity

A

Little effect.

28
Q

What factors affect genetic biodiversity

A

Mutation
Interbreeding between different populations
(alleles can be exchanges and this is called gene flow)

29
Q

How can the no. of alleles in a population decrease?

A
  • Selective breeding
  • Captive breeding
  • Rare breeds
  • Artificial cloning
  • Natural selection
  • Genetic bottlenecks
  • Founder effect
  • Genetic drift
30
Q

Explain rare breeds

A

When selective breeding has been used to make a new breed, but they became not as popular so the population falls.

31
Q

Explain natural selection

A

Evolve due to advantageous characteristics

32
Q

Explain genetic bottlenecks

A

A change (environmental or disease) that reduces the gene pool.

33
Q

Explain founder effect

A

A small number of individuals create their own colony, where there is a small gene pool.

34
Q

Explain genetic drift

A

Due to randomness, the frequency of occurrence of an allele can vary.

35
Q

What is a polymorphic gene

A

They have more than 1 allele.

36
Q

Polymorphic equation

A

Proportion of polymorphic gene loci = no. of polymorphic gene loci / total number of loci

37
Q

What does loci refer to?

A

The position of gene on a chromosome.

38
Q

Increased proportion means…

A

Increased biodiversity

39
Q

How can you measure the number of polymorphic genes

A

Gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate fragments in DNA, based on size. DNA is cut into small pieces, then placed in a gel. The gel is placed in between 2 oppositely charged electrodes. The faster the DNA travels, the smaller the DNA. It creates a pattern, called a banding pattern, which can be used to compare.

40
Q

What are the 3 main things that affect biodiversity

A

Deforestation
Agriculture
Climate change.

41
Q

How does deforestation affect biodiversity

A
  • Directly reduce the number of trees
  • (If only a specific type of tree is removed), it removes biodiversity.
  • Reduces animal habitats and food.
  • Animals have to migrate.
42
Q

How does agriculture affect biodiversity

A
  • Deforestation
  • Removal of hedgerows
  • Pesticides
  • Herbicides
  • Monoculture
43
Q

How does climate change affect biodiversity

A
  • Melting of polar ice caps - reduces the habitat of species
  • Rising sea levels causes flooding. Saltwater can damage trees.
  • Droughts - rise in xerophytes, but still a reduction in biodiversity.
  • Insects carry diseases. With changing temperatures, they might change their lifecycle.
44
Q

What is the one note about climate change and biodiversity

A

If climate change is slow, then it gives species time to adapt, and it may have a smaller impact on the biodiversity.

45
Q

What are the reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

A

Aesthetic
Economic
Ecological

46
Q

Explain aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A

Patients recover faster
Muse for artists
Relaxation

47
Q

Explain economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A
  • Deforestation causes soil erosion. Can’t be used to grow crops.
  • Run out of everything.
  • Species extinction (they could have been medically quite useful)
  • Continuous monoculture leads to soil depletion. This can create a fragile ecosystem, which is vulnerable to disease.
  • High biodiversity protects against natural disasters (so they may have alleles to fight back against diseases)
  • Tourism
  • Potential for manufacture in the future (eg. medicine)
  • Plant varieties are needed for cross-breeding (for disease resistance. and increase crop yield)
48
Q

Explain ecological reasons for maintaining biodiversity

A

All organisms are interdependent on others for survival (eg. decomposers)
- Keystone species. Without them, the entire habitat might change.

49
Q

What is conservation

A

Preservation and careful management of the environment and of other natural resources.

50
Q

What are the 2 types of conservation

A

In situ and ex situ.

51
Q

What are the 4 types of classifying conservation of animals

A

Extinct - no organisms
Extinct in the wild - only in captivity
Endangered - In danger of extinction
Vulnerable - a species that is considered likely to become endangered in the near future.

52
Q

In situ conservation main points

A

Wildlife resources.
Marine conservation.
Maintains the genetic diversity of species and the evolutionary adaptations that enable species to adapt continually to changing environmental conditions.
Allows endangered species to interact with others, it preserves the independent relationships in a place.
It’s generally cheaper.

53
Q

Wildlife resources active techniques

A 
Controlled grazing 
Restricting human access
Controlled poaching 
Feeding animals 
reintroduction of species
Removal of invasive species (that has negative effects on the economy by competing with other species.)
Halting succession
54
Q

What is succession

A

A natural process in which early colonising species are replaced over time until a stable population is created.

55
Q

What are the main points for ex situ conservation

A

Botanic Gardens
Seed banks
Captive breeding programmes

56
Q

Seed banks

A

Dried and stored at temperatures of -20 degrees to maintain the ability to still be able to germinate.

57
Q

Captive breeding programmes

A

Produce off spring of species in a human- controlled environments to produce a healthy stable population.

58
Q

Downside of captive breeding

A

Maintaining genetic diversity is hard.
Inbreeding can happen
To prevent this, they keep a catalogue to maximise genetic diversity.

59
Q

Why might animals kept in captivity not be able to live in the wild?

A

Diseases (they might not be resistant to the diseases)
Behaviour (looking for food)
Genetic races - the genetic makeup of the 2 can be so different that they can’t interbreed.
Habitat - the natural habitat must be large enough for 2 populations to live off of.

60
Q

What are the main conservation agreements

A

International Union for Conservation of Nature
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Rio Convection
Countryside Stewardship scheme

61
Q

International Union for Conservation of Nature

A

Assist in securing agreements between nations. They make the red list of endangered species.

62
Q

Rio convention

A

Convention on Biological Diversity
United nations Framework Convention on climate change
United nations convention to combat desertification.

63
Q

Countryside stewardship scheme

A

Sustaining the beauty
Improving and extending the wildlife habitats
Restoring neglected land and conserving historic features.
Improving opportunities and countryside enjoyment.

64
Q

What is Countryside stewardship scheme also called?

A

Environmental stewardship scheme

AS level - Biology (12 decks)

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