Topic 3 Biodiversity Flashcards
What is species richness?
The number of different species in a community or area
How can biodiversity be measured?
Simpson’s Diversity Index
What is an interbreeding group?
A small population
What are the problems with inbreeding groups?
Closely related More likely to be homozygous Less variation More susceptible to changes in the environment May become extinct
What are the economic reasons for conserving biodiversity?
Purification of air and water
Waste decomposition
Nutrient recycling
Genetic diversity for crops and medicine
What are the ethical reasons for conserving biodiversity?
Spiritual enrichment
Cognitive development
Reflection
Recreation
What are methods of ex-situ conservation?
Zoos and seed banks
What is ex-situ conservation?
The preservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats
What are the main roles of zoos in conservation?
Education
Scientific research
Captive breeding
How do zoos play a role in education?
Teach about
- illegal trade of animals
- need for biodiversity
How do zoos play a role in scientific research?
Control of diseases
Research into behaviour
Techniques to improve breeding
Why do zoos carry out captive breeding programmes?
Increase numbers of a species so they don’t become extinct
Preserve genetic diversity
Release animals into the wild
What are the concerns about keeping animals in zoos?
Animals behave unnaturally
Used for financial gain
Kept in poor conditions
Reduce wild populations
How do zoos maintain diversity?
Control choice of partners through stud books
Select partners using in vitro fertilisation or swapping between zoos
Don’t let the animals breed with the same animals
How do seed banks operate?
Seeds collected from a high number of plants
X-rayed to check for viable seeds
Dried to remove water
Stored in cold
Periodically checked for viability by germinating
Why are seeds collected from a number of different plants?
Ensures high genetic variation
Why are seeds dried to remove water?
Increases storage time
Why are seeds stored in the cold?
Increases storage time
What is in-situ conservation?
Conservation of natural habitats and ecosystems
What is sustainable development?
Supplying people with everything they need with minimal effects on the habitat and wildlife
Give methods of in situ conservation?
National parks
Wildlife reserves
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
What are the principles of in situ conservation?
Monitored
Protected from unwanted human activity
Suitable size for the population
Connected to other bits of land
Explain how captive breeding increases genetic diversity?
In a small population there's low genetic diversity Captive breeding increases population Record of animals kept Zoo selects the mates Animals can be swapped between zoos To stop INbreeding Use artificial insemination Measure genetic diversity using DNA profiling
