Biodiversity Flashcards

Question

describe how you use the technique of using a sweeping net to catch invertebrates

Answer 1

involves walking through the habitat with a stout net. you sweep the net through the vegetation in wide arcs. any small animals such as insects will be caught in the net . then you can empty the contents on to a white sheet to identify them, but you need to be careful because many animals can crawl or fly away as soon as they're released from the net

Answer 2

is a trap set in the soil to catch small animals . it consists of a small container buried in the soil so that its rim is just below the surface . any animals moving through the plants or leaf litter on its surface will fall into the container . the trap should contain a little water or scrunched paper to stop the animals crawling out again . in rainy weather it should be sheltered from the rain so that it does not fill up

Answer 3

is a device for collecting small animals from leaf litter, you place the leaf litter in a funnel. a light above the leaf litter drives the animals downwards as the litter dries out and warms up. they fall through the mesh screen to be collected in a jar underneath the funnel

Answer 4

can be used to collect flying insects at night. it consists of an ultraviolet light that attracts the insects. under the light is a collecting vessel containing alcohol. moths and other insects are attracted to the light and eventually fall into the alcohol

Answer 5

population size using the mark and recapture technique

Answer 6

- first you need to capture a sample of animals - mark each individual in some way that causes it no harm , the number captured will be C1 - release the marked animals and leave the traps for another period of time - the number of captured on this second occasion will be C2.the number of already marked animals will be C3 you then need to calculate the total population using the formula C1 X C2 / C3

Answer 7

C1 X C2 / C3

Answer 8

a version of a gene

Answer 9

the position of that gene on a chromosome

Answer 10

a locus that has more than two alleles

Answer 11

a measure of the diversity of a habitat

Answer 12

a measure of how evenly represented the species are

Answer 13

a measure of how many different species are present

Answer 14

richness- can be measured by counting all the species present in the habitat evenness- you need to carry out a quantitative survey , once this has been done the data can be used to calculate the biodiversity

Answer 15

using a sampling technique to take samples. record the percentage cover of each plant species.

Answer 16

this means calculating how many animals of each species there are per unit of the habitat. larger animals can be counted by observation, and smaller ones can be counted by using the sampling techniques. . The population size of smaller animals can be calculated using the mark and recapture technique. but this will not work for the numerous tiny animals living in the soil . here the only way to estimate population size is to take a sample of soil and sift through it to find all the individuals and count them sampling in water is a similar process , you can use a net to sample in the body of the water and to sift though the mud at the bottom. then you can estimate population size and density.

Answer 17

D= (E(n/N)2) ``` n= number of individuals of a particular species (or percentage cover for plants) N= is the total number of all individuals of all species ```

Answer 18

- a diverse habitat - such a habitat provides a place for many species and many organisms to live. -one species, if this one species is only a small part of the habitat, the total number of individuals effected is a small proportion of the total number present . therefore the effect on the whole habitat is small. the habitat tends to be stable and be able to withstand change

Answer 19

- a habitat dominated by a few species. in this case, a small change to the environment that effects one of those species could damage or destroy the whole habitat - such a small change could be a disease or predator or even something that humans have done nearby

Answer 20

isolated population, such a captive animals in a zoo, rare breeds or pedigree animals , may be small. therefore genetic biodiversity may be limited assessing their genetic biodiversity can help to asses the value of that population as a resource for conservation. a simple assessment of genetic diversity can be made my looking at the observable features of the individuals. if a particular feature shows variation between individuals then it suggests genetic diversity

Answer 21

allele locus gametes

Answer 22

can be estimated by calculating the number of loci in one individual that are heterozygous . however this does not give a good measure of the value of the population as a genetic resource another measurement of genetic diversity involves calculating the percentage of loci in the population that have more then one allele

Answer 23

number of polymorphic gene loci / total number of loci

Answer 24

significantly long lasting changes in weather patterns

Answer 25

a crop consisting of one strain of species

Answer 26

as the human population grows and we demand more food and consumer goods, we have a greater and greater effect upon other species - we can use the environment to our advantage - we alter the ecosystem to provide ourselves with food - we destroy and fragment habitats - we are using more and more of the earths resources - we pollute the atmosphere as a result of our activities we often harm other species either directly or indirectly , and this can often lead to extinction

Answer 27

- as we clear natural vegetation ,we reduce the size of habitats and population size of any wild species living in those habitats, this reduces the genetic diversity of the species as their population is reduced . this means that the species has less capacity to adapt to changing conditions through evolution . it may also leave isolated and fragmented populations that are too small to survive - modern agriculture relies upon monoculture and selective breeding to increase efficiency . a monoculture is a crop consisting of one strain of the species - it has very little biodiversity , this makes them easier to harvest - selective breeding also reduces genetic biodiversity because farmers select particular traits such as rapid growth or high protein contents . concentrating on these characteristics means that other characteristics may be ignored altogether . again the genetic diversity of the species declines. selecting for specific breeds of domesticated plants and animals means that other breeds become rare and die out, again loss of these varieties reduces the genetic diversity of the species- a process known as genetic erosion

Answer 28

human population growth agriculture climate change

Answer 29

- human activities appear to be altering the climate. species that have lost their genetic diversity show less variation between individuals. as the climate changes they are less able to adapt to the changes in the temperature and rainfall in the area they live - the only alternative will be for them to move and follow the climate pattern to which they are most suited. this will mean a slow migration of populations, communities and whole ecosystems towards the poles - plants currently growing in southern Europe many soon grow in northern Europe however there will be obstructions to this migration , possible obstructions include: - major human developments -agriculture land -larger bodies of water -mountain ranges -domesticated plants and animals are particularly at risk .we have selectively bred our crop plants and animals to provide the best yield in specific conditions , which means that they have little variation. as a result our agricultural species are unlikely to be able to adapt to changing conditions and are vulnerable to disease . the efficiency of agriculture will decline and less food will be available. farmers will need to change the crops that they grow and the varieties of animals that they keeps .

Answer 30

occurs when the last living member of a species dies and the species ceases to exist

Answer 31

one that has a disproportionate effect upon its environment relative to its abundance

Answer 32

the loss of fertility caused by removal of mineral by continuous cropping

Answer 33

-ecological reasons -genetic resources -economic reasons aesthetic reason

Answer 34

all the organisms in a habitat are linked together in a food chain or food webs. the range of relationships between organisms include predator prey , intraspecific and interspecific competition , and parasitic and mutualistic relationships - when one species is effected by human activity and its numbers decline, then this will affect other species . this is why habitats with higher species diversity tend to be able to withstand a certain amount of change. however in a simple habitat with a lower species diversity , the loss in numbers of one prey insect species may mean that a bird may have less food and will itself decline in numbers - many plants are also keystone species . a plant that is dominant in the habitats has many effects upon the other species in the habitat

Answer 35

- allowing biodiversity to decline means that genetic diversity also declines. this means that we could lose the natural solutions to some of our problems - wild animals and plants may hold the answer to problems caused by climate change .populations of wild plants growing in an area have had thousands of years to evolve .they have adapted to overcome the problems presented by environment. they may have also adapted to the pests and diseases found in that area .by careful selection and breeding from wild strains and wild species . we may be able to breed new crop varieties that can cope with the new conditions created by climate change . the number of potential new medicines and vaccines to be found in native plants, animals and fungi and bacteria Is unknown .plants have evolved a wide range of molecules that combat disease , any of these molecules could be of value in developing a new and effective pharmaceutical products . it is important to maintain the genetic diversity of wild species because of the potential that exists in the wide range of species currently extant

Answer 36

- regulation of the atmosphere and climate - purification and retention of fresh water - formation and fertilisation of soil - recycling nutrients - detoxification and recycling of wastes - crop pollination - growth of timber , food and fuel - discovery of molecules with potential as medicines all these factors impact upon food production. one of the most immediate effects that loss of biodiversity has on food production is the depletion of soil . soils that are subject to continuous monoculture become less fertile .as a result agriculture yields decline .this is because the crop takes minerals out of the soil ,and when the crop is harvested these minerals are removed from the ecosystems when monoculture is grown the plant always takes the same minerals ,and the effect is observed more quickly .

Answer 37

$33x10 to the power of 12

Answer 38

we experience a feeling of joy and wellbeing when observing the infinite variations of nature studies have shown that patients recover more rapidly from stress and injury when exposed to pleasing natural environment conditions - important for our wellbeing and for our physical intellectual and emotional health -diverse tropical forests protect the soil from climatic factors such a rainfall that could erode and wash the exposed soils ,woodland or forest act as a reservoir when it rains . the trees take up water and the organic matter in the soil holds water . this means that run off and drainage are reduced .the water that collects in forested hills will slowly drain away and supply water downstream for some time after the rainfall has stopped reducing biodiversity exposes the soil and changes landscape. deforestation has been linked to severe flooding. the protection if the soils is reduced when the trees are removed and replaced by buildings or agriculture

Answer 39

carrying out active management to maintain the biodiversity in the natural environment

Answer 40

areas set aside for the conservation of species or habitats

Answer 41

is not a passive process, it involves active management to maintain habitats and the species that live in those habitats . the aim is to enable endangered species to survive and maintain biodiversity

Answer 42

it is possible to pass legislation to stop such activities as hunting , logging and clearing land for development or agriculture . the legislation process is specific to a particular country

Answer 43

- comprehensiveness - how many species are represented in the area and what are the prevailing environmental conditions - adequacy- is the area large enough to provide for the long term survival of all the species , populations and communities - representativeness- is there a full range of diversity within each species and each set of environmental conditions

Answer 44

a reserve should meet the needs of indigenous people | they might need the land for traditional hunting or for spiritual and religious activities

Answer 45

- protected animals coming out of the reserve to raid crops - primates often raid farms for maize, mangoes and sugar cane - people continuing to hunt protected animals for food - illegal harvesting of timber and other plant products - tourists feeding protected animals or leaving litter

Answer 46

- national parks - national nature reserves - sites of specific scientific interest (sssi) - local nature reserves

Answer 47

areas of the sea set aside to conserve the diversity of species and habitats

Answer 48

- plants and animals are conserved in their natural environment - it permanently protects biodiversity and representative example of ecosystems - it permanently protects significant elements of natural and cultural heritage - It allows management of these areas to ensure that ecological integrity is maintained - it may provide opportunities for ecological sustainable land uses , including traditional outdoor heritage activities and the associated economic benefits - it facilitates scientific research - it may be possible to improve and restore the ecological integrity of the areas

Answer 49

- endangering habitats may be fragmented ,and each small area may not be large enough to ensure survival - the population may already have lost much of its genetic diversity - the conditions that caused the habitat or species to become endangered may still be present - the area can act as a honeypot to poachers and Eco tourists , who inadvertently cause disturbance

Answer 50

where biodiversity has been lost , it is possible to re build

Answer 51

conservation outside the normal habitat of the species

Answer 52

- play an active role in conservation - many concentrate on captive breeding and conducting research that should benefit endangered species - modern reproductive technologies such as freezing sperm ,eggs or embryos can preserve large amounts of genetic materials . artificial insemination , in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer techniques are also being used with wild animals

Answer 53

- organisms are protected from predation and poaching - the health of individuals can be monitored and medical assistance given as required - populations can be divided , so that if a disaster strikes one population then the other will survive - the genetic diversity of the population can be measured - selective breeding can be carried out to increase genetic diversity - modern reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilisation can be used to increase the chances of reproductive success - animals and plants can be bred to increase the number of endangered species - research into the reproductive physiology , lifestyle and ecology of endangered species is made easier - conservation sites can be used as attractions to raise funds for further conservation efforts - conservation sites can be used for education

Answer 54

- a captive population is always likely to have a limited genetic diversity - the animals can be exposed to a wide range of diseases - the organisms are living outside their natural habitats - nutritional issues can be difficult to manage - animals may not behave as normal , and reproduction can be difficult - the correct environmental conditions for survival may be difficult to achieve - it may be expensive to maintain suitable environmental conditions - even if production is successful , the animals have to survive reintroduction to the wild, where they need to find food and survive predation - when reintroduced there can also be difficulties with acceptance by the existing wild members of their species

Answer 55

an establishment where plants are grown for scientific study and display to the public.

Answer 56

easier than those of animals: - as part of their life cycle ,most plants naturally have a dormant stage , the seed - as seeds are produced in large numbers ,they can be collected from the wild without causing to much disturbance to the ecosystem or damaging wild populations - these seeds can be stored and germinated in protected surroundings - seeds can be stored in huge numbers without occupying too much space - plants can often be bred asexually - the botanic gardens can increase the numbers of individual plants very quickly , through techniques such as tissue culture , which provides an ample supply for research or for reintroduction to the wild - the captive bred individuals can be replanted in the wild however there are problems - funding a botanic garden can be difficult . public perception of plants is not the same as with animals , and fewer people are willing to sponsor a plant or give money to save a particular iconic species - collecting wild seeds will always cause some disturbance - the collected samples may not have a representative level of genetic diversity - seeds collected from one area may be genetically different from those collected elsewhere , and may not succeed in a different area - seeds stored for any length of time may not be viable - plants bred asexually will be genetically identical , reducing genetic diversity further - conclusions from research based on a small sample may not be valid for the whole species

Answer 57

is a collection of seed samples , which can contain the rarest , most useful and most threatened species. seed banks contain seeds that can remain viable for decades and possibly hundreds of years .however the seeds are not simply being stored . some of them are being used to provide a wide range of benefits to humanity . these benefits include providing seeds for the crops and building materials for rural communities , and disease resistant crops for agriculture . the seeds are also used for habitat reclamation and repopulation of endangered habitats

Answer 58

in order to prolong their viability , seeds are stored in very dry or freezing conditions . seeds are resistant to desiccation , and the levels of moisture in each seed has a direct effect on storage . for every 1% decrease in seed moisture level, the life span doubles . for every 5 degrees reduction in temperature , the life span also doubles . but seeds stored for decades may deteriorate .there is little use in storing seeds that die and will not be able to germinate , so it is essential to test the seeds at regular intervals to check their viability

Answer 59

a convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora is an international agreement between the majority of governments in the world

Answer 60

CITIES rio conservation on biological diversity countryside stewardship scheme

Answer 61

- regulates and monitor international trade in selected species of plants and animals - ensures that international trade does not endanger the survival of populations in the wild - ensures that trade in wild plants for commercial purpose Is prohibited - ensure that trade is artificially propagated plants is allowed , subject to permit - ensures that some slightly less endangered wild species may be traded subject to a permit, as agreed between the exporting and importing countries

Answer 62

is dedicated to promoting sustainable development . it recognises that biological diversity is about more than plants , animals , microorganisms and their ecosystems .It is also about people and our need foe secure sources of food, medicine , fresh air and water, shelter and a clean and healthy environment in which to live

Answer 63

- conservation of biological diversity - sustainable use of its components - appropriate shared access to genetic resources - appropriate sharing and transfer of scientific knowledge and technologies - fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising of the use of genetic resources

Answer 64

international cooperation's involves the sharing of research of research, genetic information and technology . ex situ conservation facilities in different member states provide support for each other and share their technologies and genetic material

Answer 65

the environmental stewardship scheme

Answer 66

- looking after wildlife , species and their many habitats - ensuring land is well managed and retains its traditional character - protecting historical features and natural resources - ensuring traditional livestock and crops are conserved - providing opportunities for people to visit and learn about the countryside

Biodiversity Flashcards

(90 cards)