Topic 1 - Describing Biodiversities

Question 1

What are biotic factors?

Answer 1

Living factors which affect an ecosystem

Question 2

What is species richness?

Answer 2

Measurement of the number of different species in an ecosystem

Question 3

What is relative species abundance?

Answer 3

Measurement of how common a species is relative to its area

Question 4

What are quadrats

Answer 4

Square grids used for sampling species in specific areas

Question 5

What is percentage cover?

Answer 5

How much space a species occupies in a specific sample

Question 6

What is Simpson’s diversity Index?

Answer 6

A measurement of diversity that accounts for species richness and evenness

Question 7

What does a high SDI suggest about an ecosystem?

Answer 7

More complex food webs, more successful species, changes in an environment will be less damaging to the ecosystem

Question 8

What is population density?

Answer 8

How many individuals per unit of area

Question 9

What does population distribution mean?

Answer 9

The spatial distribution of individuals in a population

Question 10

Population size

Answer 10

Number of individuals in a population

Question 11

What are 4 biotic factors that affect size, density, and distribution of a population?

Answer 11

Predation, competition, disease, symbiosis

Question 12

What are 3 abiotic factors that affect size, distribution, and density of a population?

Answer 12

Climate, substrate, land size

Question 13

What system do we use to denote a species of organism?

Answer 13

Binomial nomenclature (genus, species)

Question 14

What is the Linnaean system of classification?

Answer 14

Levels of classification based on morphological features

Question 15

What are the 8 levels of classification in the Linnaean system?

Answer 15

Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

Question 16

Define Clade

Answer 16

A group of organisms that consists of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants

Question 17

3 Common assumptions of cladistics

Answer 17

• Any group of organisms are related by descent from a common ancestor
• There is a bifurcating pattern of cladogenesis
• Displays physical features

Question 18

Asexual Reproduction

Answer 18

Production of offspring from 1 parent that are identical

Question 19

Sexual Reproduction

Answer 19

Production of offspring (often from 2 parents) that are genetically unique from the parent through the fusion of gametes

Question 20

What are the advantages of asexual reproduction?

Answer 20

• Fast
• Low energy mean of producing a large number of offspring

Question 21

What are the advantages of sexual reproduction?

Answer 21

• Unique offspring with genetic variation which could lead to a potentially higher chance of survival in changing environment

Question 22

K-selection Strategy

Answer 22

• Low number of offspring
• Higher energy
• Longer life span

Question 23

r-selection Strategy

Answer 23

• High number of offspring
• Low energy and maintenance
• Shorter life span

Question 24

Stratification

Answer 24

The vertical layering of habitats according to where plants/organisms grow

Question 25

Transect

Answer 25

A straight line that traverses a habitat to observe the frequency and diversity of a species along the line

Question 26

5 Steps in the process of stratified sampling

Answer 26

1. Purpose
2. Site selection
3. Choice of ecological surveying technqiue
4. Minimising bias
5. Methods of data representation

Question 27

Productive Soils

Answer 27

Soils consisting of important minerals, different grain sizes, and decayed organic matter

Question 28

Old growth Forests

Answer 28

Very old, undisturbed forests

Question 28

3 Sites that are required to understand management

Answer 28

1. Productive soils
2. Old Growth Forest
3. Coral Reefs