GVR: Biodiversity within a community

Question 1

Define biodiversity:

Answer 1

The variety of organisms living in an area.

Question 2

Define community:

Answer 2

All the populations of different species in a habitat.

Question 3

Define species richness:

Answer 3

The number of different species living in an area.

Question 4

Define genetic diversity:

Answer 4

The variety of genes making up an organism.

Question 5

Give the 5 forms of human activity that can reduce biodiversity:

Answer 5

• Deforestation
• Hedgerow removal
• Pesticides
• Herbicides
• Monocultures

Question 6

Explain how deforestation reduces biodiversity:

Answer 6

• Trees are removed to increase the area of farmland
• Number/diversity of tree species are reduced
• Removal of habitat and food sources

Question 7

Explain how hedgerow removal reduces biodiveristy:

Answer 7

• Hedgerows between fields are removed to increase the area of farmland
• Removal of habitat and food sources

Question 8

Explain how pesticides reduce biodiveristy:

Answer 8

• Sprayed on crops to kill insects/pests which feed on agriculture (reduces yield)
• Reduces insect/pest biodiversity
• Removes food source for animals that eat insects/pests

Question 9

Explain how herbicides reduce biodiversity:

Answer 9

• Sprayed on unwanted plants (weeds) which could compete with crops for resources
• Reduces plant biodiversity
• Reduces food sources

Question 10

Explain how monocultures reduce biodiversity:

Answer 10

• Farmers plant fields containing only one species of plant
• Limited habitats and food sources

Question 11

Give the three ways humans allow conservation of biodiveristy:

Answer 11

• Giving legal protection to endangered species
• Creating protected areas in areas of high biodiversity
• Schemes that encourage farmers to replant/maintain hedgerows.

Question 12

Define species:

Answer 12

A group of organisms that can reproduce and successfully produce fertile offspring.

Question 13

Define species diversity:

Answer 13

The number of different species that are represented in a given community

Question 14

Give two pieces of information needed to calculate an index of diversity within a community:

Answer 14

• Number of individuals of each species
• Total number of individuals

Question 15

Explain two advantages for a farmer to remove hedgerows:

Answer 15

• Make room for production and growth of agriculture
• Removal of habitats for pests that may be consuming crops /reducing farmers yield.

Question 16

Suggest one ethical argument for maintaining biodiveristy:

Answer 16

Every species should be protected and not at the risk of extinction.

Question 17

Suggest one ethical argument for maintaining biodiversity:

Answer 17

Allows ecotourism in areas of biodiversity and species richness.

Question 18

Define species:

Answer 18

All the individuals of a species living within a specific area.