Biodiversity

Question 1

What is genetic diversity?

Answer 1

Estimate of gene variants (alleles) in a species

Question 2

What are the two components of species diversity?

Answer 2

Species richness and species evenness

Question 3

What is species richness?

Answer 3

Number of species in an area

Question 4

What is species evenness?

Answer 4

Number of individuals of each species

Question 5

What is habitat/ecosystem biodiversity?

Answer 5

Number of habitats (ecosystems) within an area - hardest measure of biodiversity to calculate as boundaries of habitats are difficult to determine with accuracy

Question 6

What is a population?

Answer 6

A group of organisms of the same species

Question 7

The genetic diversity of a population could increase due to…

Answer 7

DNA mutations, gene flow between populations of the same species

Question 8

The genetic diversity of a population could decrease due to…

Answer 8

Selective breeding, captive breeding, genetic bottlenecks (population size reduced due to disease, habitat destruction, migration)

Question 9

How can genetic diversity be calculated?

Answer 9

No of alleles per gene
Heterozygosity - proportion of individuals in population with 2 alleles for a particular gene
Proportion of polymorphoc genes

Question 10

What are 3 human activities that can impact biodiversity?

Answer 10

Forestry management (and deforestation), agriculture, fossil fuel combustion

Question 11

How can agriculture impact biodiversity directly and indirectly?

Answer 11

Deforestation, hedgerow removal, monoculture, killing organisms considered pests or weeds, eutrophication, draining of rivers and lakes for irrigation schemes

Question 12

How does fossil fuel consumption indirectly impact biodiversity

Answer 12

Acid rain production, climate change leading to habitat destruction

Question 13

What are the principal outcomes of the Rio Convention?

Answer 13

Sustainability targets
Targets to reduce desertification/ increase land fertility
Targets for greenhouse gas emissions

Question 14

What are advantages of seed banks over botanical gardens?

Answer 14

Smaller so easier to store and transport
Less space required to store/ more can be stored in same amount of space
Longer term storage (remain viable for centuries)
Less risk of disease or damage

Question 15

What are the advantages of in situ conservation methods?

Answer 15

Cheaper (usually)
Enables interspecies relationships to be maintained
Avoids potential problems when reintroducing species

Question 16

What are the advantages of ex situ conservation methods?

Answer 16

Provides optimum conditions and veterinary care (medical attention)
Enables controlled breeding programmes

Question 17

What is conservation? As opposed to preservation?

Answer 17

The active and sustainable management of an ecosystem. Preservation maintains an ecosystem, leaving it undisturbed