Biodiversity

Question 1

What is the definition of biodiversity

Answer 1

Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire earth.

Question 2

What are different forms of biodiversity

Answer 2

1. Species diversity- Number of different species
2. Ecosystem diversity- Level of independence within species.
3. Genetic diversity- the variations within species.

Question 3

What are some different biomes

Answer 3

• Tropical rainforest
• Tropical savanna
• Desert
• Grassland
• temperate deciduous forest
• Temperate coniferous forest
• Mediterranean
• Tundra

Question 4

What is an endemic species

Answer 4

A species only found in a specific area. You would not find it anywhere else on the globe.

Question 5

What do high levels of vegetation cause

Answer 5

High levels of vegetation cause more diversity, hence why the rainforest has more diversity than tundra.

Question 6

What are the idealistic conditions for vegetation to grow

Answer 6

• Warmth
• Rainfall
• Sunlight

Question 7

What do high levels of vegetation cause

Answer 7

Higher levels of biodiversity and endemic species.

Question 8

Why does tundra have few endemic species (if any)

Answer 8

Species migrate because of a shorter growing season therefore they are no longer endemic to that area.

Question 9

How many years has the Australian rainforest been developing for

Answer 9

130 million

Question 10

What influences biodiversity

Answer 10

• Climate
• Topography
• Endemism
• Human activity

Question 11

How many types of desert are there

Answer 11

2
Hot-Sahara
Cold-Greenland

Question 12

What affects the production of biomes

Answer 12

How much plant they produce/speed of vegetation growth

Question 13

What is NPP

Answer 13

Net primary production- The rate at which organic matter is produced (g/m^2/yr)

Question 14

Which areas have a high NPP and which have a low NPP

Answer 14

Rainforest - 2200 g/m^2/yr

Desert- 90 g/m^2/yr

Question 15

Causes of extinction

Answer 15

• overexploitation

- invasive species

Question 16

Why has the rainforest in west africa been cleared as well as central south africa

Answer 16

Clearance for cash crops such as cocoa and tea

Question 17

What %age of forest does a place need to have gone for it to be a biodiversity hotspot

Answer 17

70%

Question 18

What forest is largely remaining

Answer 18

Boreal forest (conifers)

Question 19

Where is the amazon being cut down from and why

Answer 19

The perimeter as its accessible

Question 20

what type of forest is decreasing

Answer 20

Rainforest

Question 21

What area is particularly exploited (general)

Answer 21

seas- ban on whale hunting for example

Question 22

What event can cause overexploitation

Answer 22

Wars such as Rwandan conflict putting the mountain gorilla at risk and causing them to migrate

Question 23

What is an example of an invasive species

Answer 23

The cane toad was an invasive species introduced to Australia to kill off bugs on sugar cane. However they have a poisonous glad on the back of their head with kills native species when they eat them. Australia cannot get rid of them now as they have reproduced.

Question 24

What are the 3 cycles that affect ecosystem processes

Answer 24

• Water cycle
• Nutrient cycle
• Atmospheric cycle (won’t affect ecosystem processes directly)

Question 25

How are nutrients made on the ground and why is it quick

Answer 25

Decaying plants and animals provide nutrients, they decay quickly due to the hot, humid climate

Question 26

Which area out of biomass, litter and soil holds the most nutrients in the rainforest

Answer 26

Biomass

Question 27

What is the soil like in the rainforest and how does this affect the roots of trees

Answer 27

The soil is poor and infertile, therefore the roots spread over the surface in order to absorb nutrients.

Question 28

What is the soil like in the desert, how does this affect roots of vegetation

Answer 28

It is fertile because there is little rainfall to wash nutrients away, so roots can grow downwards towards water and nutrients.

Question 29

How is the rainforests floor protected and why is this important for the vegetation

Answer 29

It is protected by the canopy which prevents the nutrients on the surface being washed away or leaching.

Question 30

How can deforestation affect the water cycle

Answer 30

Trees cause transpiration, evaporation and allow for water to slowly infiltrate therefore ground water flow will increase alongside throughflow. Without this there would be increased surface runoff, poor fertility (use gersmehl's nutrient cycles).

Question 31

When the rainforest is used for agriculture after 3 cycles how much phosphorous declines

Answer 31

44%

Question 32

How can deforestation cause precipitation

Answer 32

Trees cause evapotranspiration which leads to precipitation, if this is not happening there could be more extreme weather events such as flooding in other areas.

Question 33

What have the plants in the tundra adapted to

Answer 33

Extreme cold and lack of moisture -low lying, small leaves to limit transpiration, short roots to prevent permafrost. Short life cycle adapted to growing season

Question 34

What is organic productivity

Answer 34

A measure of how quickly vegetation grows

Question 35

What is permafrost

Answer 35

A permanently frozen subsurface which is impermeable