U2: 2.1

Question 1

Describe ecosystem (habitat) diversity

Answer 1

The number of habitats available in a given area.

Question 2

Describe species diversity

Answer 2

The number of different species in an ecosystem, and the balance or evenness of the population sizes of all species in an ecosystem.

Question 3

Describe genetic diversity

Answer 3

How different the genes are of the individuals within a population (group of the same species).

Question 4

What does higher biodiversity do for an ecosystem?

Answer 4

The higher the biodiversity, the higher the ecosystem’s population/health.

Question 5

How does habitat diversity relate to species diversity?

Answer 5

The more habitat diversity, the more organisms can specialize in very specific habitat, therefore habitat diversity is highly related to species diversity.

Question 6

What is richness (r) when used as a measure of biodiversity?

Answer 6

The total number of different species found in an ecosystem.

Question 7

What is evenness when used as a measure of biodiversity?

Answer 7

The measure of how all the individual organisms in an ecosystem are balanced between the different species.

Question 8

What does an ecosystem with high richness (r) signify?

Answer 8

Good sign of ecosystem health (more species=more quality resources like H2O.

Question 9

Genetic diversity is specifically…

Answer 9

The measure of how different genomes (sets of genes) are among individuals within a population of a given species.

Question 10

How is genetic diversity beneficial?

Answer 10

The more genetic diversity a population has, the more likely the population is to survive ecosystem disturbance (disease, drought, etc.)

Question 11

What is the Bottleneck Effect?

Answer 11

A change in gene frequency in a population due to a sharp reduction in population population size.

Question 12

What is bottle necking?

Answer 12

A portion of the population is randomly eliminated, resulting in a population that reflects the genetics of the survivors.

Question 13

How can Bottleneck events affect genetic diversity?

Answer 13

Bottleneck events can reduce genetic diversity.

Question 14

Describe the niche generalist

Answer 14

A species that can live under a wide range of abiotic or biotic conditions.

Question 15

Describe how the niche generalist can live under a wide range of conditons

Answer 15

They are able to survive better under chanting conditions. Alternative habitats and food sources are available to them.

Question 16

Describe the niche specialist

Answer 16

A species that is specialized to live in avspecific habitat or to feed on a small group of species.

Question 17

Describe how the niche specialist is specialized

Answer 17

They do well when environmental conditons remain relatively constant. Loss of favoured habitat or food sources leaves them with few alternatives for survival.

Question 18

Describe the effect of habitat loss

Answer 18

When habitat is lost, first the niche specialist species are affected, then the niche generalist species are affected.
Habitat loss will reduce species that have large territorial requirements. (Large mammals especially)

Question 19

Describe ecosystem resilience

Answer 19

The ability of an ecosystem to return to its original conditions after a major disturbance (wind-storm, fire, flood, etc.)

Question 20

Explain how biodiversity affects ecosystem resilience

Answer 20

The higher biodiversity there is, the higher ecosystem resilience.

Question 21

High species distribution does what for plant species?

Answer 21

High species distribution means more plant species to repopulate disturbed ground, anchor soil, and provide food/habitat for animal species.