Unit 4 Lesson 8: Biodiversity at Different Scales Flashcards
biodiversity
or biological diversity, the variation among organisms in an ecosystem
ecosystem
all the organisms in a given area along with the nonliving things with which they interact
Impact of cutting 2 trees
On this smaller scale, biodiversity will change because the organisms that relied on those two trees for their survival need to find a new place to live. They will have to move to another tree, either close by or far away, in order to find the resources they need. Now that the trees are removed, other plants will have the opportunity to replace them, which can also change the biodiversity. However, on a larger scale, the biodiversity will not really change in this forest. This is because the loss of the organisms occupying one tree does not really have an effect on total population sizes in the forest as a whole. There are many more insects, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, epiphytes, and other species living on, in, and around every other tree nearby. These smaller-scale changes might be termed micro-effects. The disturbance does not last very long, nor cause much damage, so the amount of biodiversity is not permanently affected.
There are several factors that can impact biodiversity at all scales. These include:
- changes in available food resources
- changes to breeding habitat
- the introduction of an invasive species
- the removal of a predator species
- destruction of habitat by humans
- natural disasters
- pollution
- climate change
species
a group of potentially interbreeding individuals
community
all members of all species in a given area
population
all members of a particular species in a given area at a given time
What impact do invasive species have on biodiversity
The introduction of an invasive species, a species that is not from the area, can devastate the biodiversity of the entire habitat.
What factors are used to determine how biodiverse an ecosystem is?
Scientists measure how many different types of species are in a given area, as well as how many of each species there are.
What could occur that would reduce the biodiversity of an ecosystem at the ecosystem level?
At the ecosystem level, the introduction of an invasive species could have wide-ranging impacts. An invasive species can compete with native species for resources and cause a decline in the populations of native species.
What makes an ecosystem different from a community?
An ecosystem refers to all the living and nonliving parts of an area, while the community just refers to the living parts.
How would a temporary change in water chemistry affect the biodiversity of coral reefs?
A small change in water chemistry, such as a temporary decrease in pH, would alter the biodiversity of a coral reef for a short time. Some individuals unable to tolerate the change might move away, or some may die. However, once the change in the water has returned to normal, the overall biodiversity will remain the same.
What impact on biodiversity would be caused by a short, temporary winter freeze?
A hard, but temporary winter freeze of a small pond could cause the biodiversity of that ecosystem to decrease. However, once the water and air temperatures increased, the ice would melt and the pond would spring to life again.
Why is meant by the biodiversity of an ecosystem?
Biodiversity refers to the variation among the organisms living there. It could refer to the number of different types of organisms or the number of each type.
There are many things that can decrease the amount of biodiversity of an ecosystem. These include:
- Lack of food
- Lack of space
- Lack of mates
- Increased/decreased temperatures
- Changes in air/water quality
- Presence of hazardous chemicals
