4.2 Flashcards
1
Q
What is Biodiversity?
A
A measure of the variation found in the living world.
2
Q
What is a habitat?
A
A habitat is a place an organism lives
3
Q
What is a species?
A
A group of organisms that can freely interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
4
Q
What is habitat biodiversity?
A
The range of habitats in which different species live.
5
Q
What is species biodiversity?
A
The range of organisms found in a habitat
6
Q
What is species eveness?
A
A measure of how evenly represented the species are. Species evenness is a measure of the relative abundance of the different species within a given area.
7
Q
What is species richness?
A
A measure of how many different species are present
8
Q
What is genetic biodiversity?
A
The range of variation between individuals belonging to the same species (e.g Different Breeds Within a Species).
9
Q
What is random sampling?
A
- Sample sites inside the habitat are randomly selected.
This can be achieved through randomly generated numbers forming coordinates
10
Q
Advantages and disadvantages of random sampling?
A
- Ensures that the data is not biased by selective sampling
- May not cover all areas equally. This can lead to an underestimate of biodiversity.
11
Q
What is oppoutunistic sampling?
A
- Sampling decisions based on prior knowledge or during the process of data collection.It is likely to lead to more ‘interesting’ areas being sampled more heavily.
12
Q
Advantages and disadvantages of opportunistic sampling?
A
- Easier and quicker than random sampling
- The data may be biased. This may lead to an under or overestimate of biodiversity.
13
Q
What is stratified sampling?
A
- Dividing a habitat into areas that appear different, and sampling each area separately.
14
Q
Advantages/ disadvantages of stratified sampling
A
- Ensures that different areas of a habitat are sampled and species are not under-represented.
- Possibility of over representation as some areas that may look different are in fact similar
15
Q
What is systematic sampling?
A
- When samples are taken at fixed intervals across the habitat. Line and belt transects are systematic techniques.
16
Q
Advantages and disadvantages of systematic sampling?
A
- Useful when habitats have a change in gradient in some environmental factor
- Some species may be missed leading to an underestimate of biodiversity.
17
Q
Why is it important to sample a habitat in order to estimate biodiversity?
A
impossible / difficult , to count every individual ;
sample provides an estimate ;
sample representative (of whole area) ;
18
Q
How would you prepare to sample a habitat?
A
- Suitable clothing
- Suitable footwear
- Correct Aparatus
- Pen and Paper
- Keys to identify plants
- Camera or smart phone
19
Q
What is a quadrat?
A
- A quadrat is a square frame used to define the size of the sample area.
- A quadrat can be used to sample plants or animals that don’t move much.
20
Q
What is a point frame?
A
- A point frame contains a number of pins. When the frame is placed on the ground the plant or soil type at each point is measured.
21
Q
What is a transect?
A
- A transect is a line taken across the habitat. You stretch a long string or tape measure across the habitat and take samples along the line.
22
Q
What is a belt transect?
A
- Two parallel lines are marked and samples are taken in this area
23
Q
How can we sample animals by observation?
A
Signs such as:
- Footprints
- Animal Droppings
- Tree markings
- Burrows
24
Q
Collecting animal samples from vegetation?
A
- Walking through vegetation while sweep-netting.
The net is then emptied onto a white sheet
25
Collecting animal samples from trees?
- Placing a white sheet down and shaking/knocking branches above.
The vibrations dislodge any small animals, which will then drop onto the sheet.
26
Collecting moving land animals?
- A pitfall trap (a container filled with paper and a small amount of water)
- A Longworth trap
27
Collecting flying insects?
- A light trap which consists of a UV light to attract the insects, and a collecting vessel containing alcohol.
28
What is the standard procedure for all sampling techniques?
idea of: unbiased method to selecting sampling area ;
sample many times / AW, and calculate mean / average ;
ensure insects do not escape (before being identified) ;
method to prevent recounting ;
sample at different times of, day / month / year / weather conditions ;
29
Formula for capture and recapture?
Total population = (C1 x C2)/ C3
where:
C1; number captured initially
C2; number captured second
C3; number marked in C2
30
What is Simpson's index of biodiversity?
A measure of the diversity of a habitat. It takes into account both species eveness and species richness.
31
What other factors could be used when describing biodiversity?
- Range / number , of habitats / ecosystems
- Genetic variation (within species)
32
Simpson's index of biodiversity formula?
n is number of individuals in a particular species.
N is total number of all individuals in all species
33
What does a high value of Simpson's index of biodiversity mean?
A high value indicates a diverse habitat.
A small change to the environment may affect one species. The effect on the whole habitat will be small.
34
What does a low value of Simpson's index of biodiversity mean?
A low value indicates a habitat is dominated by a few species.
In this case, a small change to the environment that affects one of these animals could damage or destroy the whole habitat.
35
How can we simply measure genetic diversity?
A simple assessment can be made by looking at the observable features of the individuals.
A greater variation between two animals suggests a greater genetic diversity.
36
What is an allele?
A different version of the same gene
37
What is a locus?
The location of a gene on a chromosome
38
How can we measure genetic diversity using genetics?
Genetic diversity is found where there is more than one allele for a particular locus.
39
What is a polymorphic gene locus?
A locus that has more than two alleles.
40
How do humans effect biodiversity?
- Alter ecosystems to provide ourselves with food
- We destroy and fragment habitats
- We use more and more of the earth's resources
- We pollute the atmosphere
41
What effect does Agriculture have on biodiversity?
- We clear natural vegetation, reducing the size of habitats and population size.
This reduces the genetic biodiversity of the species and the population is reduced. This means the species has less capacity to adapt to changing conditions through evolution. It may also leave fragmented populations that are too small to survive.
42
What is monoculture?
A crop consisting of one strain of one species. It has very little to no genetic diversity.
43
What is genetic erosion and how does it occur?
It is the irreversible loss of genetic diversity.
As one strain is favoured and allowed to reproduce, other strains become rare or lost; the genetic variation within those strains is lost, so the species has lost genetic diversity.
44
What is climate change?
A significant, long-term shift of weather patterns
45
What effect does climate change have on biodiversity?
- Low gentically diverse organisms will be unable to adapt to the new climate conditions. This may lead to extinction or mass migration.
46
What obstructions are present to prevent migration?
- Major human developments
- Agricultural land
- Large bodies of water
- Mountain ranges
47
Why has the human population risen so quickly?
Improved health care, improved diet/nutrition, people living longer, lower infant mortality.
48
What is the process of Selective Breeding?
- Select male and female with desired characteristics
- Crossbreed together
- Select best offspring
- Repeat for many generations
49
How does selective breeding contribute to the loss of biodiversity?
Selective breeding selects certain characteristics (the farmer/scientist often ignores other characteristics). These other characteristics may also be losing diversity.
50
What factors may be taken into consideration when choosing animals for breeding?
unrelated / AW, individuals ;
health ; of reproductive age ;
selecting individuals of opposite sex (for breeding) ;
select higher proportion of females ;
51
Why are domesticated species of animals more at risk of extinction than wild populations?
Domesticated species are selected for certain features that humans want;
they may not be suitable for survival in the wild;
the genetic diversity of the species is eroded or lost;
less variation between individuals means that selection and evolution cannot take place.
52
What are keystone species?
A species that has a disproportionate effect upon its environment relative to its abundance.
53
What are the ecological reasons to maintain biodiversity?
- Protection of other organisms and keystone species
- Maintenance of population levels
- Sources of new medicines and products
54
What are the economical reasons to maintain biodiversity?
- Regulation of the atmosphere and climate
- Purification and retention of freshwater
- Formation and fertilization of soil
- Recycling of nutrients and reducing soil depletion
- Detoxification and recycling of wastes
- Crop pollination
- Growth of timber, food, and fuel
- Discovery of molecules with potential as medicines
55
What is soil depletion?
The loss of soil fertility caused by the removal of minerals by continous cropping.
56
How does a forested landscape help to manage water flow?
Foliage protects soil from erosion by rainfall; trees absorb water from soil; transpiration returns water to atmosphere; soil with organic matter stores water like a sponge; water drains out more slowly.
57
What is the aim of conservation?
Enable endangered species to survive and maintain biodiversity
58
Why is conservation important?
- Maintains biodiversity
- Part of food chain / part of ecosystem
- Have a right to existence / moral reason
- Specific religious reason
- Give pleasure / beautiful creatures
- Part of Ecosystem
- Useful product / source of medicine / medical research
- Genetic resource
59
What is conservation in situ?
Carrying out active management to maintain the biodiversity in the natural environment.
60
What are wildlife reserves?
Areas set aside for the conservation of species or habitats
61
What principles are needed when choosing a wildlife reserve?
1. Comprehensiveness - what species are represented and what are the environmental conditions
2. Adequacy - is the area large enough to provide for the long-term survival of the species
3. Representativeness - is there a full range of diversity within each species and each set of environmental conditions
62
What issues can arise with wildlife reserves?
- Protected animals coming out of the reserve to raid crops.
- People continuing to hunt protected animals
- Illegal harvesting of timber and other plant products
- Tourists feeding protected animals or leaving litter
63
What is the role of legislation in conservation?
- Laws against activities such as poaching, logging, and clearing land for agriculture development.
64
What wildlife reserves are in the UK?
- 15 National Parks
- 400 National Nature Reserves (NNR)
- 6000 Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
- Local Nature Reserves
- 27 Marine Conservation zones
65
What are marine conservation zones?
Areas of the sea set aside to conserve the diversity of species and habitats
66
What is repopulation?
Rebuilding biodiversity that has been lost.
Reverting land to its original landscape with original organisms.
67
What are the advantages of conservation in situ?
- Plants and animals conserved in their natural environment
- Protects biodiversity and representation in ecosystems
- Protects significant elements of natural and cultural significance
- It facilitates scientific research
- May be possible to improve and restore ecological integrity
68
What are the disadvantages of conservation in situ?
- The population may have already lost genetic diversity
- The conditions that caused the habitat or species to become endangered may still be present
- The area may act as a hotspot for poachers
69
What is conservation ex situ?
Conservation outside the normal habitat of the species.
70
What is the role of Zoos?
- Captive breeding (Artificial insemination, in vitro fertilizations and embryo transfer)
- Conducting research beneficial for the endangered species
71
What is the role of Botanic Gardens?
- Collecting seeds/ tissue culture
- Breeding plants
- Captive-bred individuals can be replanted in the wild
72
What is the problems with Botanic Gardens?
- Funding
- Collecting seeds causes disturbance
- May skew representation on reintroduction
- Reducing genetic diversity of plants
- Stored seeds may not be viable
73
What are seed banks?
- Institutions that preserve seed types. They aim to store a representative sample of seeds from every known species of plant.
74
What is CITES?
The convention on international trade in endangered species.
75
What is the aim of CITES?
- Regulate and monitor international trade of plants and animals
- Ensure that trade does not endanger the survival of populations in the wild
- Ensure that trade in wild plants for commercial purposes is prohibited
- Allowing trade in less endangered species subject to permit
- Allowing trade in artificially propagated plants
76
What is the aim of the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity?
- Conservation of biological diversity
- Appropriate shared access to genetic resources
- Promoting ex situ conservation methods
- Raising profile with government and public
- Appropriate sharing and transfer of scientific knowledge and technologies
- Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources
77
What is the Countryside Stewardship Scheme 1991?
A scheme to encourage farmers and other land owners to manage parts of their land in a way that promotes conservation
78
What is the aim of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme 1991?
- Improve the natural beauty and diversity of the countryside
- Enhance, restore and re-create targeted landscapes, their wildlife habitats and historical features
- Improve opportunities for public access
79
What is the Environmental Stewardship Scheme 2005?
Replaced the Countryside Stewardship Scheme 1991
80
What is the aims of the Environmental Stewardship Scheme 2005?
- Looking after wildlife, species and their habitats
- Ensuring land is well managed and retains its traditional character
- Protecting historic features and natural resources
- Ensuring traditional livestock and crops are conserved
- Providing opportunities for people to visit and learn about the countryside
81
What are the advantages of ex-situ conservation?
- Organisms are protected from predation and poaching
- The health of individuals can be monitored and medical assistance is given if required
- Populations can be divided, so if disaster strikes, then one population may live
- The genetic diversity of the population can be measured
- Selective breeding
- Modern reproductive technology can increase the chance of success
- Able to raise funds and awareness
82
What are the disadvantages of ex situ conservation?
- limited genetic diversity
- Exposure to diseases
- Living out of natural habitat
- Nutritional issues
- Enviromental control can be hard
- Reintroduction to the wild may not work
