Module 4: Biodiversity + classifications Flashcards
Species Richness:
The number of different species in an area
Species Evenness:
The relative abundance of each species living in an area.
Genetic Biodiversity:
The variation of alleles within a species (or population)
Sampling:
A group of methods used to measure an estimate of the number of individuals in an area, without having to measure all individuals, or the abundance of particular characteristics.
Reliability ~ Sampling Bias:
Sampling bias is produced by an unrepresentative selection process.
Reliability ~ The effect of chance:
Due to chance, the area sampled may be unrepresentative of the entire area. This can be lessened by increasing the sample size - to reduce the chance.
What are the different sampling techniques used for animals:
Pooter Sweep Nets - swept over long grass Pitfall Traps Tree Beating - dislodge insects from tree Kick Sampling
What are the different sampling techniques used for plants:
Quadrats - Point Quadrats - Frame Quadrats Line Transect Belt Transect
Kick Sampling:
Disturb a riverbed - hold net downstream
Pooter:
Sucking on a mouthpiece to draw insects into chamber
Point Quadrats:
Frame with a horizontal bar ~ pins in the bar equal distant apart ~ each plant pin touches reccorded
Frame Quadrats
1m^2 - square frame divided into equal sections - species recorded.
What is the range of a Simpson’s index value?
Between 0 and 1
If the Simpson’s Index value is closer to one it ______
Suggests a high biodiversity.
Factors affecting biodiversity:
Deforestation
Agriculture
Climate Change + Global Warming
Deforestation:
- Directly reduces the number of trees
- If a single tree felled- multiple species harmed
- Destruction of of habitats, food sources
- Animals are forced to migrate to surroundings
Agriculture:
- Deforestation for crop planting and rearing animals
- Creates a MONOCULTURE - massive reduction of biodiversity
- Removal of Hedgerow
- Use of herbicides and pesticides - destroy insects and food sources
- Fertiliser can cause eutrophication of nearby bodies of water.
Climate Change + Global Warming:
Melting of polar ice caps- habitat loss - extinction of species
Rising Sea Levels - Reductions of terrestrial and freshwater habitats + bleaching of coral reefs.
Higher Temperatures + Less Rainfall - xerophytic plants will become dominant - hydrophytic plants will be lost + animals that feed on them.
Migration of insects - spread of pathogens - death of vulnerable species.
Acidification of Ocean - death of phytoplankton + skeletal shells can’t form
Reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity:
Aesthetic Reasons
Economic Reasons
Ecological Reasons
Ethical Reasons
Aesthetic Reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity:
The presence of different flora and fauna enrich lives ~ tourism
Nature provides inspiration for artists.
Patients more quickly recover surrounded by natural environments.
Economic Reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity:
High Biodiversity promotes tourism
Greater diversity ~ greater potential of manufacturing useful products ~ e.g medicines
High biodiversity protects against abiotic stresses e.g natural disasters
Many plants are sources of food, drink, clothes, fuels, materials, and for scientific research
-Food security
Ecological Reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity:
- Disruption to the interdependence of organisms. Removal of one species will affect others.
- Some species (keystone species) have an important role in maintaining the ecological community. ~ removal can have a drastic effect on habitat with physical changes to the environment.
Biodiversity:
The variety in habitats, organisms, and genotypes in an area.
Sensor: Anemometer
Wind Speed - m/s
Sensor: Light Meter
Light Intensity- lx
Sensor: Humidity Sensor
Relative Humidity- mg/dm^3
Sensor: pH Probe
pH
Sensor: Temperature Probe
Temperature
Sensor: Dissolved Oxygen Probe
Oxygen Content - mg/dm^3
A high diversity index suggests:
- Environment is well established and stable
- Favourable abiotic conditions would cause a greater likelihood of finding a variety of species
- Biotic factors are important in the survival of species - due to great competition caused by high biodiversity.
A low diversity index suggests:
- Harsh and unstable environment - potentially due to pollution.
- Harsh abiotic factors may be the cause - killed species as they were unable to tolerate abiotic stress.
Species:
A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. (Hybrids are not viable because they can’t produce gametes)
Population:
A group of organisms of the same species at the same location and time.
Community:
A group of populations living and interacting in the same area.
Ecosystem:
The interaction between both the biotic and abiotic elements.
Ethical Reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity:
- Protecting potential sources of medicine
- Protect the livelihoods of indigenous populations
- Conserve for future generations.
- Responsibility to prevent harm to the ecosystem.
Advantages to greater genetic biodiversity:
Allows for the survival of a species despite great selection pressures.
In Situ Conservation:
Conservation zones Controlling the introduction of species Protecting habitats Promoting particular species Legal protection of endangered species.
Ex Situ Conservation:
Relocating organisms to safer areas
Isolated breeding programs - animal sanctuary
Botanic Gardens - conservation + edu
Seed Banks - protect seeds of plants from biotic and abiotic factors - can be used for preserving plants for future medicines.
3 Reasons for the decline of rainforests:
- Industrial development and construction.
- Exploitation of natural resources and deforestation for wood
- Deforestation to acquire fertile land for agriculture
Extinct:
No surviving organisms of the species
Extinct in Wild:
No members of the species are alive outside of captivity
Endangered:
A very low population and could become extinct without intervention.