Species Diversity Flashcards
What is species diversity?
This refers to the number of different species and the number of individuals of each species within any one community.
What is genetic diversity?
Refers to the variety of genes possessed by the individuals that make up any one species.
What is ecosystem diversity?
Refers to the range of different habitats within a certain area.
What is the index of diversity?
A useful way of measuring species diversity.
It’s calculated using an equation that takes different population sizes into account.
The higher the number (index of diversity)…
The more diverse the area is.
If all the individuals are of the same species the index of diversity is…
1
What is biodiversity?
Describes the variety of living organisms and ecosystems on Earth.
Why is biodiversity important?
It provides as with food, fresh water, oxygen, medicines and the raw materials we need to live.
What is deforestation doing to biodiversity?
Reduces biodiversity.
Directly reduces the number of trees and sometimes the number of different tree species.
It destroys habitats, some species could lose their shelter or food source.
Farmers try to maximise the amount of food they can produce from a given area of land. Many of the methods they use reduce species diversity…what are some of these?
Woodland clearance- increase the area of farmland, reduces biodiversity.
Hedgerow removal- increase the area of farmland by turning lots of small fields into fewer large fields, reduces biodiversity.
Pesticides- chemicals that kill organisms that feed on crops. Reduces diversity by directly killing the pests, any species that feed on pests will lose a food source.
Herbicides- chemicals that kill unwanted plants (weeds), reduces plant diversity, any species that feed on weed may die as well.
Competition- some crops may be better at competing for certain resources than other plants- other plants may be unable to compete and die.
Deforestation benefits.
Wood and land for homes to be built
Local areas become more developed by attracting businesses.
Deforestation risks.
Diversity is reduced- species could become extinct.
Less carbon dioxide is stored because there are fewer plants and trees- climate change.
Many medicines come from organisms found in rain forests- possible future discoveries may be lost.
Natural beauty lost.
Agriculture benefits.
More food can be produced.
Food is cheaper to produce, so food prices are lower.
Local areas become more developed by attracting businesses.
Agriculture risks.
Diversity is reduced- monoculture woodlands and hedgerow clearance, herbicide and pesticide use.
Natural beauty is lost.
What is monoculture?
When farmers grow only one type of crop.
