Measuring Biodivrrsity

Question 1

What are the four ways of measuring biodiversity

Answer 1

Species richness/diversity (alpha diversity)
Species composition (beta diversity)
Phylogenetic diversity
Functional diversity

Question 2

Briefly what is species composition

Answer 2

The species present in different areas and comparing their distribution - opposite to jaccard similarity index

Question 3

Briefly what is phylogenetic diversity

Answer 3

Variability in genetic viability

Question 4

Briefly what is functional diversity

Answer 4

What is the function of different organisms within the ecosystem

Question 5

What is endemism

Answer 5

Restricted to a particular area e.g Scottish crossbill

Question 6

What is phylogenetic diversity based on

Answer 6

The phylogenetic distance between species. Higher diversity when species present in the community are less genetically related

Question 7

Why are biodiversity measurements important

Answer 7

Provides tools for selecting areas to prioritise for conservation. We have limited resources and time. Have to feed populations so use resources wisely.

Question 8

Why is it tricky to decide the placesro conserve

Answer 8

Due to the multitude of ways of measuring biodiversity

Question 9

What are biodiversity hotspots

Answer 9

Refers to a geographical area that ranks particularly high species richness. Also based on levels of endemism, number of rare or threatened species.

Question 10

What did Marshall (2016) find

Answer 10

High bioquality implies a high proportion of globally rare plants in an area - species that stand to be lost from the global pool. Shows the most significant areas for global plants but also reveals variations within the areas at a local scale

Question 11

What are the 3 aspects that make it hard to figure which areas to conserve

Answer 11

Species richness
Endemic species richness
Threaten species richness

Question 12

What did Orme (2005) figure out

Answer 12

Only 2.5% of biodiversity hotspots for birds overlap and we can’t just rely on that one area to conserve

Question 13

What is there a lack of congruence between

Answer 13

Species and phylogenetic diversity of terrestrial birds and mammals

Question 14

What are similarity indices (Jaccard) important

Answer 14

To help define complementarity areas

Question 15

What is the complementarity approach

Answer 15

Conserving as much biodiversity as possible in a limited area of land available for consecration

Question 16

What is the evenness concept

Answer 16

We should conserve areas which have equal diversity

Question 17

What is functional diversity

Answer 17

The elements of biodiversity (species traits) that influence how ecosystems function

Question 18

What is ecosystem function

Answer 18

In an ecological context, function is generally considered a synonym for process

Question 19

What is species diversity-ecosystem function

Answer 19

Ecosystem functions are positively related to species richness

Question 20

What are the three things Thompson (2015) looked into

Answer 20

Species richness
Functional diversity
Phylogenetic diversity.
Effects of zooplankton diversity on chlorophyll a in the 23 ponds.

Question 21

What is included with the term ecosystem function

Answer 21

Stocks of materials e.g carbon, water and minerals and rates of processes involving fluxes of energy and matter between trophies levels and the environment

Question 22

What are ecosystem services

Answer 22

Benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to making human life both possible and worth living e.g pollination of fruit.
Usually encompasses the tangible and intangible benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems ‘goods’ and ‘services’

Question 23

What 3 things make up ecosystem services

Answer 23

Functional diversity
Ecosystem functioning
Environment and climate change

Question 24

Parts of biodveity

Answer 24

Species richness
Composition
Interactions

Question 25

Parts of ecosystem functioning

Answer 25

Productivity
Biomass
Nutrient cycling

Question 26

Parts of abiotic environment

Answer 26

Temperature
Rainfall
Soil fertility

Question 27

Using the amazon what should we think about when trying to consvere it

Answer 27

Where the forests are and where they’re disappearing.
Where the forests guardians live.
Biggest biodiversity strongholds.
Places that supply fresh water for people.
Forests that store the most carbon.
Areas most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Amazonias essential natural capital (ecosystem services)

Question 28

What needs to be considered

Answer 28

Complex landscapes and species

Question 29

Unfortunately what are the criterion for selecting habitats for conservation still based on

Answer 29

Degree of representativeness.
Area.
Degree of conversation of the habitat structure and function and restoration possibility.
European Commision Habitats Directive.

Question 30

What is the score or 0 in the classification by natural England

Answer 30

> 100,000ha

Question 31

What is the score of 1 in the classification by natural England

Answer 31

10,000-100,000ha
Artificial naturalness
Relatively unfragmented

Question 32

What is the score of 2 in the classification by natural England

Answer 32

1000-99,999ha
Semi-natural
Fragmented

Question 33

What is the score of 3 in the classification by natural England

Answer 33

<1000ha
Natural
Highly fragmented

Question 34

What are three conservation priority habitats for England

Answer 34

Coastal sand dunes
Limestone pavements
Deciduous woodlands