L3 - Biodiversity

Question 1

define Biodiversity

Answer 1

sum total of variation of life on earth.

Question 2

what are the three components of diversity?

Answer 2

genetic, species, ecosystem diversity

Question 3

describe genetic diversity

Answer 3

individuals differ genetically within populations of a species

Question 4

why is genetic diversity important?

Answer 4

more genetic diversity allows for higher chance to succeed in a changing environment.

Question 5

what is species fitness?

Answer 5

how likely a species is to succeed

Question 6

what does agrobiodiversity, and why is it bad.

Answer 6

refers to monoculture crops that have low genetic diversity and have low fitness within the given population.

Question 7

what are the three types of species diversity?

Answer 7

alpha, beta, and gamma diversity

Question 8

what is alpha diversity

Answer 8

number of species ina given area (usually small homogenous)

Question 9

what is gamma diveristy

Answer 9

species richness over larger area (region- continent scale)

Question 10

what is beta diversity

Answer 10

the difference in species among habitats or communities

Question 11

what are the two ways of calculating beta diversity?

Answer 11

Whittaker method and turnover method

Question 12

what is the equation for Whittaker beta diversity

Answer 12

betaW = gamma / alpha.mean

Question 13

what is the equation for turnover beta diversity

Answer 13

betaT = (alpha1 - overlap1&2) + (alpha2 - overlap1$2)

Question 14

how many mass extinctions are there in geological history?

Answer 14

5 - currently in 6th

Question 15

what are the current causes of the mass extinction going on right now (5)

Answer 15

• habitat destruction
• introduction of species
• overexploitation
• climate change
• nitrogen deposition