Biodiversity

Question 1

define Biodiversity

Answer 1

The measure of variation found in the living world, including plants, animals, fungi AND the variations in the genes contained!

Question 2

Define Habitat Diversity

Answer 2

1. The range of habitats in a given area! (simples…)

Question 3

Define Species Diversity

Answer 3

1. The number of species and the abundance of species in a certain area!

Question 4

2 branches of Species Diversity…

Answer 4

1. Species RICHNESS: number of different species in a habitat
2. Species EVENNESS: the abundance of each different species in a habitat

Question 5

Define Genetic Diversity

Answer 5

• measure of GENETIC VARIATION found within a species
• NUMBER OF ALLELES in a GENE POOL

Question 6

Describe Random Sampling!

Answer 6

1.We randomly select an area for quadrat, via RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR (coordinates laid by map/tape)
2. (+) Ensures data is not BIASED
3. (-) May not cover all areas of habitat equally, low species count may be missed

Question 7

Describe Opportunistic Sampling

Answer 7

1. Sampling decisions based on prior knowledge or data collections, deliberatly
   2.(+) Faster and easier than random
2. (-) Biased data, may lead to population overestimate due to area focused

An “opportunity” to sample best researched locations!!!

Question 8

Describe Stratified Sampling

Answer 8

1. Dividing a habitat into areas and sampling each area SEPERATLY, within representative proportion
   2.(+) all area sampled and no under-represented species
2. (-) over-representation may lead to a disproportinate number

Question 9

Describe Sytematic Sampling

Answer 9

1. Samples taken at fixed intervals across habitat
   2.(+) Usefull for investigating gradients from environmental factors
2. (-) missed species as only species touching line can be recorded!

Question 10

Difference with LINE and BELT transect?

Answer 10

1. LINE = species touching the string line
2. BELT = Species toucing in Tape Measures+Quadrats

Question 11

Percentage Covering of Quadrat?

Answer 11

1. Counting number of square grids occupied by flora
2. Divide by the total number of grids!

Question 12

What is a POINT FRAME?

Answer 12

1. Frame holding 10 needles, where each flora touching needle will have 1% covering counted!
2. Lower point frame into quadrat 10 times, for 100 total readings!
3. Easy to bias point frame due to favoured positioning in quadrats, so undergo random systematic placing system!

Question 13

Continous vs Interrupted Belt Transect!

Answer 13

1. Cont = Quadrat moved ALONG tape measure to study belt line in detail
2. Interupt = Quadrat placed at SET INTERVALS along the tape measure

Question 14

Wy use Transect/Quadrat?

Answer 14

1. Tran = measuring a GRADIENT change, due to BIOTIC or ABIOTIC factors……
2. Quad = Measurin the distribution of flora in a specific area.

Question 15

How does Growing human population affect Biodiversity?

Answer 15

• Increased demand on land space and goods
• MORE SPACE REQUIRED for agricultral land and housing
• can cause HABITAT FRAGMENTATION
• reducing biodiversity…

Question 16

How does Habitat fragmentation affect Biodiversity?

Answer 16

1. Will reduce ability for species to interbreed together
2. will lead to inbreeding, reducing gene pool
3. unable for alleles to mix with many other alleles of individuals
4. will lead to genetic defects, species will be LESS ADAPTED to changes in environment, reducing gnetic variation!

Question 17

How does Agriculture affect Biodiversity?

Answer 17

1. MONOCULTURES could be mass produced, where 1 strain of species are harvested
2. loss in wild, native strains of flora, reducing genetic diversity!
3. Also includes, eutrophication, pesticide use, habitat destruction and bioaccumalation

Question 18

Define Selective Breeding and link to Biodiversity decrease…

Answer 18

1. Where desireable characteristics in alleles are selected for during breeding programmes, for benefit
2. REDUCED BIODIVERSITY ALSO, as other characteristics are ignored, reducing gene pool as genes are no longer expressed….

Question 19

Define Genetic Erosion

Answer 19

1. Where genes and alleles are no longer expressed within population, due to selective breeeding et al….

Question 20

How does Climate Change affect Biodiversity?

Answer 20

1. Causes rapidly changing environments for many species (e.g. Ice, forests…)
2. Species unable to adapt to changes at same rate, leading to decline in biodiveristy and extinction
3. Causes migration obstructions, sea level rise/ floods…..

Question 21

What is the Simpson’s Index of Biodiversity?

Answer 21

1. a STATISTICAL TEST to measure biodiversity over a habitat!
2. uses both species EVENNESS and RICHNESS as indicators, between 0.0 and 1.0

Question 22

How can we interpret data from high/low Simpson’s Index of Biodiversity?!

Answer 22

1. High = many different species and abundance, meaning small change to environment will have very little effect on habitat as whole > MORE STABLE and ABLE to withstand changes!
2. Low = very few species, meaning small change to environment will have large effect on habitat as whole > UNSTABLE and CAN’T to withstand changes!
3. Sudden Changes = pathogen, new predator, sudden climate, loss of food………

Question 23

Define Polymorphic Gene Locus and Locus

Answer 23

1. L = position of gene on a chromosome
2. PGL = a locus containing MORE THAN 2 alleles, within an entire population..

Question 24

Define Homozygous and Heterozygoes Locus

Answer 24

HOMO = different alleles at the SAME locus
HETERO = different alleles at DIFFERENT locus on a chromosome

Question 25

**Calculating Genetic Diversity, and interpret???**

Answer 25

1. num. of heterozygous loci / total num. of loci * 100 2. **Higher percentage = GREATER GENETIC BIODIVERSITY**

Question 26

What makes animal sampling **HARDER** than plants?

Answer 26

1. Animals able to **hide** away at presence of humans 2. Not easy to spot in habitat, due to constant **movements**...

Question 27

Disadvantes of **Human Sightings** for **Animal Sampling**

Answer 27

1. **Misidentification** of certain animals 2. **Exaggeration/Lying** of sighted animals 3. **Re-Spotting of same animal** in habitat!

Question 28

How to **catch Invertebrates** in sampling animals!

Answer 28

1. **Sweep Nets** = via large Nets > good for small, flying insects, once captured, insects may escape 2. **Pooter** = small jar sucking trapping > good for low vegetation, prevents escaping, inefficient 3. **Tullgren Funnel** = leaf litter in funnel as hot lamp light drives invertabrates down into collecting jar >can dry and kill insects 4. **Pit Fall traps** = dig hole and cover with vegetation > may fill with water in rain/animals may crawl out

Question 29

How to undertake **Capture+Recapture** technique in animal sampling

Answer 29

1. **Longworth traps** used > capturing small animals 2. Animals are **marked, released, and recaptured** to estimate total population!

Question 30

Define **in situ conservation**

Answer 30

1. Conserving species WITHIN their natural habitat!

Question 31

2 main Methods of **in situ conservation!**

Answer 31

* **WildLife Reserves** = Designated areas established for conservation of habitats and species * **Marine Conservation Zones** = areas of SEA established for conservation of habitats and marine species

Question 32

Different types of **WildLife Reserves** in in situ conservatiojn...

Answer 32

1. **Wildlife Parks** = protected countryside for visitors 2. **National Nature reserves** = protecting sensitive features, enabling research 3. **Sites of Special Scientific Interests** = Beutiful habitats, endangered / fragile 4. **Local Nature Reserves** = protected by wildlife trusts

Question 33

POSTIVES and NEGATIVES for **in situ conservation!**

Answer 33

1. **GOOD** = Enables scintific **researches**, conserved in **natural environment**, protects **biodiversity and cultral heritage** of area 2. **BAD** = **fragmented habitats** can occur, **genetic diversity already lost**, **endangering conditions may still remain**, **hotspot for poachers** causing disturances

Question 34

Define **ex situ conservation!**

Answer 34

1. Conserving species OUTSIDE their natural habitat!

Question 35

Methods of **in situ conservation!**

Answer 35

* **Zoos** = breeding animals in captivity * **Botanical Gardens** = variety of plants grown in under potimal conditions, large diversity * **Seed Banks** = collection of seed samples, representative from every known species of plant * **Gene Banks** = Tissue, pollen, sperm and egg banks for biodiversity protection and re-introduction if needed

Question 36

POSTIVES and NEGATIVES for **ex situ conservation!**

Answer 36

1. **GOOD** = organisms **protected from poaching**, **measured** genetic diversity, sites of visitor **education and awareness**, **monitored health** of individuals and **research** 2. **BAD** = limited **gene pool**, **expensive to matain natural** environment conditions, **abnormal animal behaviour** : stress, **lower reproduction rates**.

Question 37

POSTIVES and NEGATIVES for **botanical gardens!**

Answer 37

1. **GOOD** = large num of seeds stored for little space, asexual bredding can occur, tissue culture allows rapid increases in num, little disturbances caused in seed collection 2. **BAD** = lack of public funding due to interest, not representative sample collected per seed, asexuall reproduction reduces gene pool in gardens

Question 38

What is **CITES?**

Answer 38

1. **Conervatioon of International Trade of Endangered Species** 2. monitors international trade of species, prevents endangeres animals and plants traded for commerce...

Question 39

What is **CBD?**

Answer 39

1. **Conservation of Biological Diversity** 2. scientific knowledge shared with countries, equitable sharing of resources..

Question 40

What is **CSS and ESS?**

Answer 40

1. **Country/Environmental Stewardship Scheme** 2. Local to UK, farmers given grants to conserve british landscapes, ensured well managed land use and historical features protected....