Module 4 - Biodiversity Flashcards
Explain the importance of sampling in measuring the biodiversity of a habitat
Sampling provides an estimate of the number of species in an area as counting every individual is difficult and time consuming
Why is it important to take samples in fenced and unfenced areas
To compare two areas
Explain the difference between species richness and species evenness and why both measurements are needed to assess biodiversity.
Species richness is the number of species in a habitat
Species evenness is the number of individuals in each species
Higher biodiversity is associated with both species riches and species evenness
Outline the significance of a low value of Simpson’s Index of Diversity
Low value of simpsons index of diversity suggests that there is a small variety of species therefore the ecosystem is unstable and are less likely to cope with change
What is the equation for the proportion of polymorphic gene loci?
Proportion of polymorphic gene loci = number of polymorphic gene loci / total number of loci
Give one aim of CITES
Conserves the endangered species by regulating trading activities
Define the term species evenness
The relative abundance of each species in an area
Name the agreement that encourages fair sharing of benefits from the legal use of endangered species
Rio Convention
What best describes the term biodiversity?
The variety of genes, species and habitats
The cassowary is a large, flightless bird found in the rainforest in parts of Australia. It feeds mainly on fruit. The seeds of the fruit are deposited on the rainforest floor.
The cassowary is known as a keystone species. This means it is important for the survival of other species.
Suggest what role the cassowary plays in the survival of other species.
Seed Dispersal
The cassowary needs to be conserved for ecological reasons.
State two other reasons for maintaining biodiversity.
Brings more economy due to tourism visiting the bird
The bird is aesthetically pleasing to view
The mountain gorilla is an endangered species with as few as 880 individuals surviving in the wild. Many of the animals have been ‘habituated’ to human contact. The health of these animals is monitored and medical assistance is given when necessary. Animals that are not habituated are rarely visited.
(i) Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage of keeping some gorilla families that have not been habituated.
Advantage:
less likely to catch disease from humans
Disadvantage:
Poaching is more likely
What was the Rio Convention about
Agreement between nations
develop national strategies for sustainable development and maintaining biodiversity.
D sumatrensis lives in rainforests.
Their numbers are difficult to determine but they are estimated to number fewer than 100.
Suggest two reasons why this species is critically endangered in the wild.
Due to loss of habitat as mass deforestation and hunting is occurring.
The remaining D sumatrensis are all small and are scattered in isolated areas.
These are factors that might speed up the extinction of the species.
Suggest why
Natural disaster can wipe out small populations
More vulnerable to predators
Suggest one other way in which zoos can contribute to the conservation of organisms
Educating and raising awareness
Global biodiversity is in decline.
Human population growth, agriculture and climate change each have an effect upon biodiversity.
Explain how each of these factors contributes to the decline in biodiversity.
Human population growth can affect biodiversity as there is a demand in more housing and land therefore more habitats are destroyed to clear the land. In addition more pollution is produced causing damage to wildlife.
Agriculture can affect biodiversity as planting one plant for profit can lower the biodiversity. Using pesticide and fertiliser causes one plant to grow however damages surrounding species. This suggests that there is a lower capacity to cope to changing conditions.
Climate change lowers biodiversity as a rise in sea level due to glaciers melting causes more frequent flooding which in turn damages crops and reduces land area. In addition, some species may not be able to adapt.
Explain the benefits to agriculture of maintaining plant biodiversity.
used for genetic engineering;
variety of plants might be useful (climate change)
source of a new medicine for livestock
Under the terms of one such agreement, some of the money made legally from endangered species goes to the country where the species was first discovered in the wild.
Name the agreement that encourages fair sharing of benefits from the legal use of endangered species.
Rio Convention
Explain why it is sometimes necessary to conserve a plant species, such as N. thermarum, outside its natural habitat (ex situ).
habitat can be destroyed from climate change or human activity
Ex situ can maintain a gene pool
Protection from disease
Give three advantages of conserving plant species as seeds and not as adult plants.
Lower maintenance costs
Large numbers can be stored
Easy to transport
Female silver-washed fritillary butterflies, Argynnis paphia, are usually an orange-brown colour. However, a deep olive-green colour can be seen in some females, largely in the south of England.
What is the term given to this type of biodiversity?
genetic biodiversity
Explain how a pitfall trap can be set up and used to sample invertebrate biodiversity.
dig hole and place container in soil Make container level to the soil cover to protect leave over night and count number of invertebrates the next morning
Explain one way in which tourists can lead to an increase in the biodiversity of an area.
Ecotourism
Money from tourism is used to support conservation
State the collective name of the animal and plant populations that are present at the end of primary succession
Climax Community
The aim of the survey was to compare the biodiversity of butterfly species in the two areas
Suggest how the procedure could be improved so that a valid comparison could be made
More transects in different parts of area 1 and 2
Different times of day
Method of ensuring individuals are not counted again
Botanic gardens collect plant species from around the world to maintain biodiversity
State two levels at which biodiversity may be considered
Genetic
Number of Species
Outline briefly a valid investigation that could determine the effect of varying the moisture content of the soil on the growth of a plant
grow in a range of water content
leave for same time
measure height
calculate mean
Scientists try to estimate the total number of species on earth
Suggest 3 reasons why estimates are not likely to be accurate
Not all species found
Some may be extinct recently
New species are being formed
Explain what a keystone species is
have significant effect on ecosystem
many other species rely on activity of the specific animal
Current estimates of the Scottish wildcat population vary
Biodiversity occur only in the most remote, uninhabited areas of the Scottish Highlands.
Biodiversity can be considered at several levels. A scientist concluded that the biodiversity of the Scottish highlands would continue to reduce because of the small population of Scottish wildcats.
Evaluate the scientists conclusion with reference to genetic biodiversity and species biodiversity. (6)
genetic diversity will decrease, there will be smaller gene pool and smaller proportion of polymorphic loci. In breeding is more likely and cats are more closely related therefore lower potential for adaptation .
species biodiversity, wildcats may go extinct. It can affect food chain. Species richness can decrease as one less species.
