4.2.1 Biodiversity

Question 1

what is the definition of biodiversity?

Answer 1

the measure of all the different plant, animal, fungus, and other microorganism species worldwide, the genes they contain and the ecosystems of which they form a part

Question 2

what are the levels of biodiversity?

Answer 2

habitat biodiversity, species biodiversity and genetic biodiversity

Question 3

what is the definition of habitat?

Answer 3

the place where individuals in species (organisms) live

Question 4

what is the definition of species?

Answer 4

a group of organisms of common ancestry that interbreed freely to give rise to fertile offspring (very similar in appearance, autonomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics)

Question 5

what is the definition of habitat biodiversity?

Answer 5

the number of different habitats in an area

Question 6

example of habitat diversity in a coastal area

Answer 6

beaches, sand dunes, mudflats, salt marshes etc

Question 7

give 9 examples of abiotic factors

Answer 7

air, salinity, soil, temp, humidity, light, water, minerals, pH

Question 8

give 5 examples of biotic factors

Answer 8

food webs, competition, availability of food, predators, parasitism

Question 9

what is the definition of species biodiversity?

Answer 9

the number of different species (species richness) and the abundance of each species (species evenness)

Question 10

what is species richness?

Answer 10

the number of different species

Question 11

what is species evenness?

Answer 11

the abundance of each species

Question 12

what contributes to species biodiversity?

Answer 12

the range of organisms

Question 13

How can species richness and species evenness necessary to compare?

Answer 13

two habitats may have an equal number of different species, but the representation in one could be dominated by one or two species (eg wild meadow and cow pasture)

Question 14

what are all the ways that sampling can be carried out?

Answer 14

random and non random

Question 15

what are the three ways of non-random sampling?

Answer 15

opportunistic, stratified, systematic

Question 16

what is sampling? key term

Answer 16

taking measurements of a limited number of individual organisms present in a particular area

Question 17

what must samples be representative of?

Answer 17

the habitat

Question 18

what is abundance? key term

Answer 18

the number of species present in an area

Question 19

what is distribution? key term

Answer 19

a measure of the relative abundance of the different species in an area

Question 20

what is the description of random sampling?

Answer 20

-using randomly generated numbers as co-ordinates
-selecting co-ordinates on a map and suing a portable global positing satellite system to find exact position

Question 21

what are the advantages of random sampling?

Answer 21

-ensures that the data are not biased bu selective sampling

Question 22

what are the disadvantages of random sampling?

Answer 22

species with a low presence may be missed, tf leading to an underestimate of biodiversity

Question 23

what is the description of non-random opportunistic sampling?

Answer 23

the researcher makes sampling decisions based on prior knowledge or during the process of collecting data

Question 24

what are the advantages of non-random opportunistic sampling?

Answer 24

it is easier and quicker than random sampling

Question 25

what are the disadvantages of non-random opportunistic sampling?

Answer 25

the data may be biased, as the presence of large/colourful species may entice the researcher to include species. this would lead to a possible over-estimation of its importance and tf would over-estimation of biodiversity

Question 26

what is the description of non-random stratified sampling?

Answer 26

dividing a habitat into areas which appear different and sampling each area separately

Question 27

what are the advantages of non-random stratified sampling?

Answer 27

it ensures that all different areas of a habitat are sampled and species are not under-represented (due to random sampling possibly missing certain areas)

Question 28

what are the disadvantages of non-random stratified sampling?

Answer 28

may lead to over-representation of sone areas in a sample (a disproportionate number of samples are taken in small areas that look different)

Question 29

what is the definition of non-random systematic sampling?

Answer 29

samples are taken at fixed intervals across the habitat (line transects and bely transects are systematic techniques)

Question 30

what are the advantages of non-random systematic sampling?

Answer 30

it is particularly useful when the habitat shows a clear gradient in some environmental factors (eg the soli getting driver further away from the pond)

Question 31

what are the disadvantages of non-random systematic sampling?

Answer 31

only species on the line or within the belt can be recorded, other species can be missed, leading to an underestimate in biodiversity