Biodiversity

Question 1

What is biodiversity?

Answer 1

The total variation among all living things

Question 2

Describe measuring biodiversity

Answer 2

Useful in helping to monitor change and to assess which areas and species should be supported

Question 3

What are the three main measurable components of biodiversity?

Answer 3

Genetic diversity

Species diversity

Ecosystem diversity

Question 4

Describe genetic diversity as a means of measuring biodiversity

Answer 4

Genetic diversity can be measured by counting the total number of different alleles that exist in a population and how frequently they occur

If a population loses its genetic diversity it may not be able to adapt to future environmental conditions

Question 5

Describe species diversity as a means of measuring biodiversity

Answer 5

Species diversity is the number of species (richness) and the relative abundance in an ecosystem

A community with a dominant species has a lower species diversity

Question 6

Describe ecosystem diversity as a means of measuring biodiversity

Answer 6

The number of distinct ecosystems in a defined area

Question 7

What is the island bio geography

Answer 7

The study of factors affecting distribution and diversity of species of isolated natural communities

Question 8

Discuss the different types of islands associated with island biogeography

Answer 8

True island (surrounded by water)

Habitat island (area surrounded by an unlike ecosystem)

Question 9

Describe the species diversity of a habitat island

Answer 9

The species diversity of the habitat island depends its area and degree of isolation from similar habitats

Smaller and more isolated the habitat island is the lower its species diversity

Question 10

Why is it important to maintain biodiversity?

Answer 10

Food, medicines and products

Maintaining important ecological processes e.g. pollination

Recreation e.g. camping/fishing

Duty of care (stewardship)