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Biology > Module 4.2 - Biodiversity > Flashcards

Module 4.2 - Biodiversity Flashcards

1
Q

What is CITES

A

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
International agreement by most of the world’s governments
Overall aim is to ensure that international trade in wildlife doesn’t threaten their survival

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2
Q

Aims of CITES

A

Conserve biodiversity
Regulate, monitor and prevent trade in endangered species
Ensure trade doesn’t endanger wild populations
Prohibit commercial trade in wild plants
Allow some trade in led endangered plants and animals
Allow trade in artificially propagated plants

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3
Q

How CITES helps conservation

A

Countries in agreement make it illegal to poach species
Place ban on trade of endangered species
Increase cooperation between countries
Increase awareness of impact of illegal trade

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4
Q

What is the Rio Convention?

A

Recognises human needs for food, land, medicine, clean environment as well as the need for maintaining biodiversity
International agreement by 150 governments
Overall aim is to promote sustainable development

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5
Q

Aims of Rio Convention

A

Conserve biodiversity
Sustainable use of organism/habitats/ecosystems
Share genetic resources
Share access to scientific knowledge
Promote ex situ conservation methods
Raise profile of biodiversity with governments/general public
International cooperation on biodiversity issues

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6
Q

Aims of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme

A

Improve natural beauty
Enhance landscapes for their wildlife and historical features
Improve opportunities for public access
Conserve traditional livestock and crops

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7
Q

Define biodiversity

A

The range of habitats, the number of different species and their relative abundance, and the genetic diversity within a species within an area

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8
Q

Define habitat

A

The place where an organism lives

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9
Q

Define species

A

A group of organisms similar in appearance, physiology and genetics where members are able to interbreed to produce fertile offspring

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10
Q

Define habitat biodiversity

A

The range of habitats in which different species live within an area

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11
Q

Define species biodiversity

A

The number of different species living in a habitat (species richness) and their relative abundance (species evenness)

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12
Q

Define genetic biodiversity

A

Variation between individuals of the same species

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13
Q

Types of non-random sampling

A

Opportunistic
Stratified
Systematic

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14
Q

Explain opportunistic sampling

A

Prior knowledge of a site determines sample site

May deliberately sample an area where an organism is known to be present

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15
Q

Advantages of opportunistic sampling

A

Quicker and easier than random sampling

Guaranteed results

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16
Q

Disadvantages of opportunistic sampling

A

Biased - may overestimate/underestimate abundance of particular species (e.g. researcher may be drawn to areas with larger or colourful species, overestimating its importance)

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17
Q

Explain stratified sampling

A

Divide a habitat into areas which seem different and sample each separately

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18
Q

Advantages of stratified sampling

A

Ensures all different areas of a habitat are sampled so no under representation (random sampling may miss certain areas)

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19
Q

Disadvantages of stratified sampling

A

If too many samples are taken in proportionally smaller areas, it could lead to over representation of these areas

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20
Q

Explain systematic sampling

A

Samples taken at regular, predetermined intervals (e.g. line/belt transects)

21
Q

Advantages of systematic sampling

A

Shows gradual change in environmental factors

22
Q

Disadvantages of systematic sampling

A

Some species may not be within the line or belt so will be missed, leading to an underestimate in biodiversity

23
Q

Method of random sampling

A

Use a computer to randomly generate numbers for coordinates (the number of coordinates required depends on the size of the area being sampled)
Go to the coordinates and place a quadrat there
Count the presence of species and the different types of species within the quadrats
Use this data to calculate the species richness and evenness

24
Q

Methods of measuring abundance

A 
Abundance scale (e.g. ACFOR scale)
Estimate % cover
Measure % cover using point frame (frame with 10 needles, put down 10 times in quadrat- each plant touching a needle has a 1% cover)
25
Model answer to sample plants
Set area to be sampled Use a belt transect to sample Use 0.5m x 0.5m quadrats at regular 5m intervals Identify plant species using a key Record the presence and absence of species in each quadrat Measure the % cover of each species Repeat this using several different transects for reliability Calculate biodiversity using Simpson’s diversity index
26
Model answer to sample animals
Set area to be sampled Use random numbers generated by a computer to make coordinates to locate the areas to randomly sample Pick an appropriate capture method (e.g. sweep nets, pooters, pitfalls) Identify each species using a key Count the numbers of each species Repeat this several times in each habitat using the same technique for reliability Calculate biodiversity using Simpson’s diversity index
27
Explain pond/sweep nets
Use in water or low vegetation to catch small animals or insects Sweep net in arcs to catch animals Identify and count on a white background
28
Explain pooters
Use for small animals or insects once caught with a pond/sweep net or from trees Suck up animals into a clear container to stop them flying off
29
Explain trapping from trees
Use for small animals or insects in trees | Hit tree branches with a stick to knock off animals into a white tray or white paper to identify and count
30
Explain pitfall traps
Use for small animals or insects on the ground Container buried in soil so insect fall into it Water or a chemical to stun them can be used to stop them crawling out Should be sheltered in rain
31
Explain tullgren funnels
Use for small animals or insects from leaf litter Leaf litter placed on mesh A light dries out the leaf litter Animals fall through mesh into a collecting jar
32
Explain light traps
Use for insects attracted to light at night | UV light attracts insects which fall into alcohol in the trap
33
Explain longworth traps
Use for small animals (e.g. mice) Bait put in trap, it snaps shut behind animals, leaving them unharmed They can be marked, released and recaptured to estimate population sizes
34
Method of mark, release and recapture
Allows estimate to be made of population size of a species Capture sample of animals Mark them Number captured = C1 Release animals Retrap/recapture another sample using the same method for validity Number captured = C2 Number recaptured (marked) = C3 Calculate total population using C1 x C2 / C3
35
Define species richness
Number of different species in the habitat
36
Define species evenness
Relative numbers of how many individuals in each species
37
What is Simpson’s Index of Diversity?
A measure of biodiversity of a habitat as it takes into account species richness and species evenness
38
Why would we need to assess genetic biodiversity of a small/isolated population?
Genetic biodiversity can be very low Calculations to assess genetic biodiversity indicates how useful that population will be in providing a wide range of genes to support the species’ conservation
39
What causes genetic biodiversity?
Different/more than one allele on a locus
40
How to calculate genetic diversity
Number of polymorphic gene loci / total number of loci
41
Define polymorphic gene locus
Locus that has more than two alleles
42
What has reduced biodiversity?
Human population growth Agriculture Climate change
43
How has human population growth reduced biodiversity?
Use the environment or our own advantage Alter ecosystems to provide ourselves with food Destroy habitats Use Earth’s resources Pollute the atmosphere Our activities result in harming other species either directly or indirectly, which can lead to extinction
44
How has agriculture reduced biodiversity?
Clearing vegetation reduces the size of habitats and populations, so reduces the genetic diversity and the species has less capacity to adapt to changing conditions May leave isolated and fragmented populations that are too small to survive Monoculture has very limited genetic diversity Selective breeding also reduces genetic diversity and can cause genetic erosion (process where an already limited gene pool of an endangered species diminishes even more when individuals from the surviving population die off without getting a chance to meet or breed with others in their endangered population)
45
How has climate change reduced biodiversity?
As climate changes, species are less able to adapt to changes in temperature and rainfall Only alternative is to migrate and follow the climate patterns they are most suited to Obstructions to migration: major human developments; agricultural land; large bodies of water; mountain ranges
46
Define keystone species
Species that has a disproportionate effect upon its environment relative to its abundance
47
Ecological reasons to maintain biodiversity
Interdependence of organisms (higher species diversity means more stable habitat, decline of keystone species will have dramatic effect on habitat e.g. beavers create large areas of still water where other species can live) Genetic resource (for genetic engineering or selective breeding to produce new species which can cope with new effects of climate change) Natural medicines/vaccines
48
Economic reasons to maintain biodiversity
``` Regulation of atmosphere and climate Purification and retention of fresh water Formation and fertilisation of soil Recycling of nutrients Detoxification and recycling of wastes Crop pollination Growth of timber, food and fuel Discovery of molecules with potential as medicines Food production - avoid soil depletion ```
49
Aesthetic reasons to maintain biodiversity
Patients recover more quickly from stress and injury when exposed to pleasant natural environment conditions Deforestation causes flooding Soil protection reduced when trees are removed so run-off and drainage increase

Biology (22 decks)

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