Text Book - Biodiversity

Question 1

Species richness/ evenness

Answer 1

Is the number of species / the number of individuals within each species

Question 2

Opportunistic sampling

Answer 2

means modifying the sampling strategy according to knowledge of the habitat or during the sampling process. It is likely to lead to more ‘interesting’ areas being sampled more heavily. Therefore, the more uncommon organisms or larger more colourful organisms may be oversampled

Question 3

1) How you would sample a meadow for plants

Answer 3

Using a random sampling technique place quadrat in randomly selected area and measure the % cover of each species, use a point frame to measure % cover and make sure that all species have been accounted for

Question 4

How would someone cause disturbance to a habitat

Answer 4

Trampling of plants; damage to some plants by efforts to observe closely and identify them.

Question 5

Uses of a belt transect

Answer 5

When there is a gradient of environmental conditions which produces a gradient in the species distribution

Question 6

Uses of pellets

Answer 6

Owl pellets contain the undigested parts of their prey. (bones, fur, claws etc.). It is possible to tease the pellet apart and identify the prey species from their bones

Question 7

How to mark a small animal without causing them harm

Answer 7

use non toxic paint

Question 8

What does high species evenness ensure

Answer 8

it is less likely that one species could be lost as a result of disturbance. If one prey species declines in number, the predators can swap to eating a different prey species. This allows the first prey species to recover.

Question 9

Why is genetic variation east to identify

Answer 9

A gene codes for the structure of a protein. The protein may form a characteristic of the individual which is easily identified, e.g. colour

Question 10

Why could genetic variation not be easy to identify

Answer 10

6) The variation may be a recessive allele, which is masked by the dominant allele. Or, the genetic variation may alter a characteristic which is not easy to spot – such as the activity of a particular enzyme

Question 11

What is polymorphic gene loci

Answer 11

having more than two alleles at a locus increases genetic diversity

Question 12

How could genetic diversity be calculated

Answer 12

calculating the % of loci in the population that contain more than one allele

Question 13

Monoculture

Answer 13

a crop consists of only one strain of species so there is little to no genetic diversity – often replaces a habitat with lots of genetic diversity

Question 14

Selective breeding

Answer 14

only certain characteristics are selected meaning that there is less variation in species leading to a loss in genetic diversity

Question 15

Genetic erosion

Answer 15

The reduction in genetic diversity in a species

Question 16

How does genetic erosion occur

Answer 16

As one strain is favoured and allowed to reproduce, other strains become rare or lost; the genetic variation within those strains is lost, so the species has lost genetic diversity

Question 17

Why domesticated species are less likely to survive in the wild

Answer 17

; they may not be suitable for survival in the wild; the genetic diversity of the species is eroded or lost; less variation between individuals means that selection and evolution cannot take place.

Question 18

Adaptions plants need to make with climate change

Answer 18

Ability to survive with less water and in higher temperatures, ability to limit transpiration, thicker waxy cuticle, modified enzymes that have a different optimum temperature, water storage capacity

Question 19

How does soil depletion cause dust storms

Answer 19

– in a monoculture it takes the same nutrients from the soil and causes the soil to have a loss in these nutrients
Cropping continuously without replacing the minerals and organic matter in the soil, leading to depletion of the soil. No organic matter to hold soil particles together and drought conditions, leading to dust storms.

Question 20

A forest landscape helps manage water flow

Answer 20

Foliage protects soil from erosion by rainfall; trees absorb water from soil; transpiration returns water to atmosphere; soil with organic matter stores water like a sponge; water drains out more slowly

Question 21

Keystone species

Answer 21

one that has a disproportionate effect upon its environment relative to its abundance

Question 22

Soil depletion

Answer 22

the loss of soil fertility caused by the removal of minerals by continuous cropping

Question 23

In Situ

Answer 23

carrying out active management to maintain the biodiversity in the natural environment / Conserving a species in its natural environment or habitat

Question 24

How does in situ require active management

Answer 24

Conservation aims to maintain or increase the biodiversity. If a habitat is not managed, it is likely to succumb to a few dominant species and biodiversity will be lost; management is needed to keep diversity high.

Question 25

Difficulties to overcome when attempting to repopulate an area with its original flora/fauna:

Answer 25

The threat that caused the initial loss of flora and fauna may still exist – it must be removed or controlled;

• local people may want to use the area for other purpose, such as agriculture; -the soil may have been damaged beyond repair;
• competition from introduced plants or animals may be too great;
• the other wild animals in the area may not accept the introduced animals;
• the introduced animals must learn how to find food and avoid predation

Question 26

Advantages of in situ

Answer 26

• Plants and animals are conserved within there natural environment
• Permanently protects biodiversity and representative examples of ecosystems
• Permanently protects significant elements of natural and cultural heritage
• Allows management of these areas to ensure ecological integrity is maintained
• May provide opportunities for ecologically sustainable land uses including traditional outdoor heritage activities and associated economic benefits
• Facilitates scientific research
• May be possible to improve and restore ecological integrity in an area

Question 27

Disadvantages of in situ

Answer 27

• Endangered habitats may be fragmented and each small area may not be large enough to ensure survival
• Population may have already lost much of its genetic diversity
• Conditions that caused habitat/ species to become endangered may still be present
• Area can act as a ‘honeypot’ to poachers and eco-tourists who inadvertently cause disturbance

Question 28

Animals may not reproduce as normal in a wildlife park as:

Answer 28

Not in normal habitat; conditions may be different (e.g. temperature, day length, light intensity, vegetation, moisture levels, food etc.). Behaviour may be modified by conditions. Size of population or density of population may also alter reproduction habits.

Question 29

Advantages of carrying out research on species closely related to an endangered species:

Answer 29

As it allow research without affecting the endangered species. Species that are similar may have very similar behaviour or physiology, revealing knowledge which can be applied to the endangered species

Question 30

Reducing the moisture content and temp allows seeds to be stored for longer a

Answer 30

Both factors reduce the activity of enzymes; living tissue must respire, which slowly uses up the stored food in the seeds; reducing enzyme activity ensures the stores last longer. Also, the cooler and drier conditions reduce the chance of pathogens growing on the seeds.

Question 31

Advantages of ex situ

Answer 31

• Organisms are protected from predators and poaching
• Health of individuals can be monitored and medical assistance can be given if required
• Populations can be divided so that if disaster strike sone population then the other will survive
• Genetic diversity of the population can be measured
• Selective breeding can be carried out to increase genetic diversity
• Modern reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilisation can be used to increase the chances of reproductive success
• Animals (and plants) can be bred to increase the number of endangered species
• Research into the reproductive physiology; lifestyle and ecology of endangered species is made easier
• Conservation sites can be used as attractions to raise funds for further conservation efforts including fundraising for iconic species such as the giant panda
• Conservation sites can be used for education

Question 32

Disadvantages of ex situ

Answer 32

• Captive population is always likely to have limited genetic diversity
• Animals can be exposed to a wide range of different diseases
• Organisms are living outside there natural habitat
• Nutritional issues can be difficult to manage
• Animals may not behave as normal and reproduction may be difficult
• Correct environmental conditions for survival may be difficult to achieve
• May be expensive to maintain suitable environmental conditions
• Even If reproduction is successful the animals have to survive reintroduction to the wild where they need to find food and survive predatation
• When reintroduced there can also be difficulties with acceptance by the exist in wild members of there species

Question 33

Advantages of ex situ for plants

Answer 33

• Can be collected from the wild without too much disturbance
• Can be stored and germinated in protected surroundings
• Seeds can be stored in huge numbers without occupying too much space
• Plants can be bred asexually
• Botanic garden can increase the number of individual plants very quickly through techniques such as tissue culture, which provide an ample supply for research or reintroduction into the wild
• Captive bred individuals can be replanted in the wild

Question 34

Disadvantages of ex-situ for plants

Answer 34

• Funding a botanic garden can be difficult. Public perception of plants is not the same as with animals and fewer people are willing to sponsor a plant or give money to save an iconic species
• Collecting wild seeds will always cause some disturbance
• Collected samples may not have a representative level of genetic diversity
• Seeds collected from one area may be genetically different from those collected elsewhere and may not succeed in a different area
• Seeds stored for any length if time may not be viable
• Plants bred a sexually will be genetically identical – reducing genetic diversity further
• Conclusions from research based on a small sample may not be valid for the whole species

Question 35

1) International agreements may be hard to enforce as

Answer 35

The government of a country may not feel the agreement is important, especially if the government has changed since signing the agreement; local people may not feel agreement is important; they want to make a living out of the environment; poachers and illegal traders are difficult to catch.

Question 36

Species at the millennium seed bank need to be conserved at other locations because

Answer 36

• In case of a disaster such as a fire
• Greater opportunities for research
• allows a greater number of representatives, and therefore greater diversity, to be conserved

Question 37

Useful in replicating research in repeating it elsewhere

Answer 37

Any scientific research must be repeated; the original research could be invalid due to the researchers overlooking some factor. It is also possible that in different conditions and with different varieties the findings may be different.

Question 38

Advantages to the farmer in the Environmental Stewardship Scheme

Answer 38

Income, grant aid to carry out expensive works, increased diversity on the farm, homes for natural predators of farm pests

Question 39

CITES

Answer 39

Convention of International Trade of Endangered species
Aim: Ensure that international trade in specimens of wildlife does not threaten there survival
-Regulate and monitor international trade in selected species of plants and animals
-Ensure that international trade does not endanger the survival of populations in the wild
-Ensure that trade in wild plants for commercial processes is prohibited
-Ensure that trade in artificially propagated plants is allowed, subject to permit
-Ensure that some slightly less endangered wild species may be traded subject to a permit as agreed between the exporting and importing countries

Question 40

Rio Convention of Biological diversity

Answer 40

Aim: Promoting sustainable development – about more than just wildlife but people too

• Conservation of biological diversity
• Sustainable use of its components
• Appropriate shared access to its genetic resources
• Appropriate sharing and transfer of scientific knowledge and technologies
• Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources

Question 41

Environmental Stewardship Scheme

Answer 41

Environmental Stewardship Scheme
Provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England to deliver effective environmental management on their land
Aim: Provide funding and advice to help land managers to conserve, enhance and promote the countryside by:
- Looking after wildlife species and their many habitats
- Ensuring land is well managed and retains its traditional character
- Protecting historic features and natural resources
- Ensuring traditional livestock and crops are conserved
- Providing opportunities for people to visit and learn about the countryside

Question 42

Country Side Stewardship scheme

Answer 42

The Country side Stewardship Scheme:
Applied to land that was not considered an environmentally sensitive area, payments were made to farmers and other landowners in order to enhance English landscapes
Aims:
-Improve the natural beauty and diversity of the countryside
-Enhance, restore and recreate targeted landscapes, their wildlife habitats and historical features
-Improve opportunities for public access

Question 43

Species become endangered due too

Answer 43

-poachers

; habitat destruction; development of land; agriculture; climate change; over harvesting; over predation; competition

Question 44

Successful conservation of an endangered species usually relies upon a combination of in situ and ex situ techniques

Answer 44

Species become endangered because of some threat; threat may still be present; therefore in situ attempts may fail; numbers can be increased ex situ; allowing reintroduction to wild; in situ conservation enables research which may help ex situ attempts

Question 45

Reasons for maintaining Biodiversity

Answer 45

economic reasons; soil depleted by over cropping; food becomes scarce/to protect our food supply; ecological reasons; loss of one species may affect ecosystem; keystone species may be lost; aesthetic reasons; important to maintain the landscape; natural habitat known to be health