what is biodiversity

Question 1

how is diversity measured

Answer 1

Takes into account richness and evenness. The shannon and simpson index are used
- shannon: accounts for richness and evenness (gives relatable and accure insight)
- simpson index: accounts for richness and evenness and identifies the probability of two samples being from the same species; gives a percentage

Question 1

what is diversity

Answer 1

diversity is a concept without a true definition. It is a tool and a comparison. It is variety and difference. The difference among or between entities.
- a tool used to compare and contrast two or more sampled environments
- biodiversity is a general term for the number of species present in the biosphere, by taking into account species number and relative abundance to eachother.
- heterogenetity

Question 2

What is the difference between alpha, beta, and gamma diversity?

Answer 2

Alpha- small scale. Measures 1 sample. Local diversity with abstract community or a specific site. spescies diversity in an ecosystem
Beta- compares 2 samples. Differential. diversity between sampling units or sites. change in species diversity (mainly between two communities or 2 ecosystems)
Gamma- compares many samples. Regional. big sample size. diversity over a wide range of communities or habitats (overall bio diversity of a large geographic region)

Question 3

Differentiate species richness versus species evenness?

Answer 3

Richness- amount of species in sample count. How many species
Evenness- the proportion of 1 species to another. relative; number of individuals in species relative totoal number of individuals in allspecies within a habitat, ecosystem, or biome.

Question 4

What is a bioindicator species? What characteristics would identify a good bioindicator
species?

Answer 4

• a specific group or species whose population flutuates in space and/or time based upon measureable change inthe environment.
• a change in bioindicator species population gives insight into environment change
• god bioindicator speices change in presence/abundance, numbers, morphology, phisiology, or behaviour indicate physical or chemical variables in environment
• NOTE: you can similarily have bioindicator genes (biomarker) or indicator habitats (ex great barrier reef)

Question 5

How is diversity linked to biological organisation or the complexity of life?

Answer 5

many populations of different species form diverse communities. Diversity in different parts of biological organization creates different traits/ different speices. Diversity creates populations, communities, forms. When different species interact more diversity forms. Species are interconnected. they act off eachother and are hurt or improved due to eachother. diversity allows for more things to occur

Question 6

classes of diversity

Answer 6

• genetic diversity (within a species) (ex. each person in a room has different bacteria in their mouth, compare them)
• species diversity (variety of species in an area)
• ecosystem diversity (range of habitats, niches, communities, in an area)
• increased genetic diversity facilitates species diversity which facilitates ecosystem diversity

Question 7

global diversity pattern

Answer 7

• diversity hotspots ( incresed relative diversity)
• ex. desert has decreased diversty compared to great barrier reef

Question 8

what is scale

Answer 8

scale is dependant. how we look at things at which scale we take determines diversity we can take