4.2 Biodiversity

Question 1

What is biodiversity?

Answer 1

The measure of the variation found within the living world.

Question 2

What are the different types of biodiversity?

Answer 2

• Habitat biodiversity
• species biodiversity
• genetic biodiversity

Question 3

What defines a species?

Answer 3

organisms that are very similar, who can breed together to produce fertile offspring.

Question 4

What is the difference between species richness and species evenness?

Answer 4

Species richness: The number of species

Species evenness: The degree to which a species is represented in an area.

Question 5

What ways are there to sample live organisms?

Answer 5

• a pooter (suck into a jar)
• pitfall trap
• a tullgren funnel (light down leaves)
• light trap
• longworth trap (metal box)

Question 6

What is one way of estimating population size?

Answer 6

Mark and recapture

Question 7

How do you measure biodiversity?

Answer 7

Simpsons index of biodiversity

high value indicates more diversity

Question 8

What is the difference between an allele and a locus?

Answer 8

Allele: A version of a gene
Locus: The position of that gene on a chromosome.

Question 9

How can genetic diversity be calculated?

Answer 9

Calculating the percentage of loci in a species that have more than one allele (heterozygous or polymorphic gene loci)

Question 10

What is a keystone species?

Answer 10

A species which has a disproportionate affect on its environment. It would have dramatic effect on its ecosystem if it were to go extinct.

Question 11

What services do ecosystems provide?

Answer 11

• regulation of atmosphere and climate
• purification of water
• formation of fertile soil
• recycling of nutrients
• detoxification and recycling of waste
• crop pollination
• growth of timber
• medicines

Question 12

What is the difference between conservation in situ and ex situ?

Answer 12

In situ: Active management to maintain the biodiversity in the environment they are found

Ex situ: conserving species through activities outside its normal habitat, such as zoos.

Question 13

What examples of in situ conservation is there?

Answer 13

-legislation
-wildlife reserves such as:
National parks National nature reserves
SSSI's Local nature reserves
`Marine conservation zones

Question 14

What advantages of in situ conservation are there?

Answer 14

• long term protection of biodiversity
• allows for ecologically sustainable land uses
• facilitates scientific research
• removes stress of zoos and artificial habitats

Question 15

what are the disadvantages of ex situ conservation?

Answer 15

• habitat fragmentation
• the conditions which causes the habitat or species to become endangered may still be present
• attracts poachers and ecotourists

Question 16

What are the advantages of ex situ conservation?

Answer 16

-organisms are protected from poachers and predation
-health can be monitored
-the genetic diversity of the population can be measured
-seeds can be stored and germinated
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