Theme A: A4 Ecosystems - A4.2 Conservation of Biodiversity

Question 1

biodiversity

Answer 1

the variety of life found in an area.

Question 2

ecosystem diversity

Answer 2

considers diversity from the largest overall viewpoint.

Question 3

species diversity (species richness)

Answer 3

the number of different species in a community. when looking at a table, it would be the total number of species

Question 4

species eveness

Answer 4

measure of relative abundance of each of the species in a community. when looking at a table, it would be the proportion of species which is often more important than species richness when determining which ecosystem is the healthiest.

Question 5

gene pool

Answer 5

all the gene types or alleles found in an entire population.

Question 6

allele

Answer 6

A specific form of a gene, differing from other alleles by one or a few base differences. Alleles occupy the same gene locus on homologous chromosomes.

Question 7

anthropogenic species extinction

Answer 7

the extinction of a species caused by human activity

Question 8

monoculture

Answer 8

using large areas of land to grow a single crop

Question 9

In situ conservation efforts

Answer 9

The conservation of species in their natural habitats. Examples include national parks, nature reserves, rewilding, reclamation.

Question 10

ex situ conservation efforts

Answer 10

The preservation of species outside their natural habitats, typically in controlled environments like zoos, botanical gardens, animal tissue banks or seed banks.

Question 11

national parks

Answer 11

an area of land established by a nation and dedicated to preserving its geology and wildlife.

Question 12

nature reserves

Answer 12

A protected area established to conserve specific species, ecosystems, or biodiversity. Nature reserves prioritise minimal human interference.

Question 13

rewilding

Answer 13

The process of restoring ecosystems to their natural state by reintroducing native species, removing human influences, and allowing natural processes to shape the landscape and biodiversity.

Question 14

reclamation (projects)

Answer 14

The process of restoring degraded ecosystems or land to a more natural or productive state, often involving soil improvement, re-vegetation, or removing pollutants.

Reclamation is the process of repairing land degraded by human activities (e.g., mining, deforestation, agriculture) to make it usable or ecologically functional again.

Question 15

animal husbandry (in zoo breeding programmes)

Answer 15

The management and care of animals in zoos to ensure their health, welfare, and reproduction. This includes providing appropriate nutrition, shelter, veterinary care, enrichment activities, and maintaining genetic diversity in breeding programs.

Question 16

artificial insemination (in zoo breeding programmes)

Answer 16

A reproductive technique where sperm is collected from a male animal, processed, and then artificially introduced into the reproductive tract of a female animal. This method is used in zoo breeding programs to facilitate genetic diversity, manage breeding between genetically valuable individuals, and assist in breeding endangered species without the need for direct physical mating.

Question 17

botanic gardens

Answer 17

Botanic gardens are protected areas designed for the cultivation, study, conservation, and display of a wide variety of plant species. These gardens often house rare, endangered, and endemic species and serve as valuable resources for scientific research and conservation efforts.

Question 18

seed banks

Answer 18

A seed bank is a facility or repository that stores seeds from a wide variety of plant species, particularly those that are endangered or at risk of extinction. The primary purpose of seed banks is to preserve genetic diversity and protect plant species from environmental threats, habitat loss, or climate change. These seeds can be stored for long periods in cold and dry conditions to maintain their viability for future restoration or research.

Question 19

animal tissue banks

Answer 19

Animal tissue banks are collections of biological samples from various animal species that are preserved for future scientific research, medical applications, or conservation efforts. The tissues are typically preserved using cryopreservation, which freezes the samples at extremely low temperatures to maintain their integrity for long periods.

Question 20

germplasm

Answer 20

Germplasm refers to the genetic material, including the DNA, RNA, and chromosomes, of an organism that is passed on to the next generation. It encompasses the reproductive cells (sperm and eggs) and the tissues that produce them, containing the heritable information necessary for reproduction and the continuation of a species.

Question 21

somatic tissue

Answer 21

Somatic tissue refers to all the cells and tissues in the body of an organism, except for the reproductive cells (gametes). Somatic cells are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes.

Question 22

examples of human population growth effect on biodiversity

Answer 22

1) over exploitation of resources
2) hunting
3) deforestation
4) monoculture
5) pollution
6) increased pest species
7) invasive species
8) urbanisation
9) spread of disease

Question 23

EDGE of existence programme

Answer 23

Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species.

a selected species is then promoted for priority status in conservation programmes.