Biodiversity

Question 1

What is habitat biodiversity?

Answer 1

The number of different habitats in an ecosystem.

Question 2

What is species biodiversity?

Answer 2

Examining the different species living in a habitat and measuring the species richness and species evenness. This can be measured using the Simpson’s index of diversity.

Question 3

What is genetic biodiversity?

Answer 3

Genetic variation between individuals of the same species

Question 4

What is species richness?

Answer 4

The number of different species in a habitat.

Question 5

What is species evenness?

Answer 5

The number of individuals of the same species in a habitat.

Question 6

What is sampling?

Answer 6

Selecting a small area or areas in a habitat to study.

Question 7

Why is it good to take a sample instead of using the whole habitat?

Answer 7

It is less time consuming

Question 8

What is random sampling?

Answer 8

Selecting areas of the habiata ti study in a random manner.

Question 9

What are the 3 types of non-random sampling?

Answer 9

Opportuistic, stratified and systematic

Question 10

What is opportunistic sampling?

Answer 10

Deliberate samples during data collection in order to get representive data.

Question 11

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 11

Choosing two different areas in a habitat to sample.

Question 12

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 12

Samples taken at fixed intervals across a habitat, e.g. transect.

Question 13

What is an advantage of random sampling?

Answer 13

Data is not biased by selective sampling.

Question 14

What is an advantage of non-random sampling?

Answer 14

Ensures all areas of a habitat are sampled. Can identify changes in a habitat.

Question 15

What is a disadvantage of random sampling?

Answer 15

Rare species may be missed, leading to an underestimate of biodiversity.

Question 16

What is a disadvantage of non-random sampling?

Answer 16

Data may be biased and some areas may be over-represented

Question 17

What is a frame quadrat?

Answer 17

It is a metal or wooden frame in which the species richness and species eveness are measured.

Question 18

What is a point quadrat?

Answer 18

In a point quadrat, the species touching each pin are counted. It is a horizontal bar with 10 holes and the pin can be moved across the bar.

Question 19

What are transects used to measure?

Answer 19

The change in species across an area.

Question 20

What is a line transect?

Answer 20

Quadrats are placed at equal intervals across the line.

Question 21

What is a belt transect?

Answer 21

The species richness and species eveness are measured between 2 lines.

Question 22

What are pitfall traps?

Answer 22

A pitfall trap consists of some type of cup or other container that is submerged in the soil and partially filled soil and bait. Insects and other organisms crawling about on the ground simply walk into the container and then cannot get out.

Question 23

What is kick sampling?

Answer 23

Kick sampling collects animals that live at the bottm of a stream or pond. A net is held under the water while the streambed is agitated by kicking for several minutes.

Question 24

What is sweep net sampling?

Answer 24

A sweep net collects animals that live in a field or long grass. The net is swept through the field to collect insects.

Question 25

What is a pooter?

Answer 25

A glass jar used for collecting small insects etc; it has two tubes, one (protected by a gauze) which is sucked, the other up which the insect is drawn

Question 26

What is genetic biodiversity?

Answer 26

The amount of genetic variation within a population. Usually a population with a large number of idividuals has a high genetic biodiversity.

Question 27

How can you observe the level of biodiversity?

Answer 27

By looking at the phenotypes ( observable traits) of the population. Many differences in phenotype, e.g. fur colours, will indicate high genetic diversity.

Question 28

What is genetic diversity caused by?

Answer 28

The number of alleles of each gene

Question 29

When is a gene "polymorphic"?

Answer 29

When it has two or more alleles

Question 30

How many alleles are there at each locus (position on the chromosome)?

Answer 30

2

Question 31

What does heterozygous mean?

Answer 31

A pair of alleles where the alleles are different.

Question 32

What does homozygous mean?

Answer 32

A pair of alleles where the alleles are the same.

Question 33

How does human population growth affect biodiversity?

Answer 33

The increased human need for land, food and resources reduces the habitats and food sources for other species. E.g. cutting down a forest to build houses.

Question 34

How does monoculture affect biodiversity?

Answer 34

When only one species of a plant in planted in an area at a time, there is less space for other species. E.g. planting a forest of palm trees for palm oil.

Question 35

How does climate change affect biodiversity?

Answer 35

Increased human activity increases climate change, which affects the habitats of other species. E.g. increased flooding of low lying areas.

Question 36

How does increased human activities (e.g. hunting) affect biodiversity?

Answer 36

Increased human activity increases the extnction rate of many species. E.g. the Japanese river otter became extinct in 2012 due to hunting and human pollution of its habitat.

Question 37

What are the reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

Answer 37

Ecological- Protecting keystone species and mantaining genetic variation. Economic- Services and products that plants and animals provide for us, such as maintaining nutrients in the soil, timber, fruit and honey. Aesthetic- Protecting landscapes: enjoying th e natural beauty of the planet.

Question 38

What are in situ methods of conservation?

Answer 38

In situ means that the plants or animals are being kept in their natural environment.

Question 39

What are examples for methods of in situ conservation?

Answer 39

Conservation zones can be created for marine wildlife. In these areas, no fishing or hunting is allowed. Wildlife reserves are a place terrestrial animals can live, no hunting is allowed and rangers protect the animals. National parks are places where the plants and animals inside them are protected.

Question 40

What is an advantage of in situ conservation?

Answer 40

Biodiversitiy in that ecosystem is protected.

Question 41

What are some disadvantages of in situ conservation?

Answer 41

It is difficult to carry out breeding programmes and animals may not have access to medical care.

Question 42

What are ex situ methods of conservation?

Answer 42

Ex situ means that the plants or animals are being kept outside of their natural environment.

Question 43

What are some methods of ex situ conservation?

Answer 43

Seeds of plants can be kept in a seed bank to protect them for future generatons. Plants may be grown in botanical gardens, so that the plants can be conserved and studied. Animals may be kept in a zoo or aquarium.

Question 44

What are some advantages of ex situ conservation?

Answer 44

- Can carry out breeding programmes - Prevent extinction of species - Protection from hunting - Animals will have access to medical care.

Question 45

What are some dissadvantages of ex situ conservation?

Answer 45

- Does not protect the biodiversity of the original habtat - Will lose some genetic diversity due to fewer breeding pairs - Difficult to reintroduce species back into the wild.

Question 46

What is CITES?

Answer 46

The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species,1973: signed by most countries, this prevents the trade of endangered wild plants and animals and animal parts, e.g. ivory.

Question 47

What is The Convention on Biological Diversity, Rio Earth Summit, 1992?

Answer 47

It's signed by more than 150 countries. It is designed to promote worldwide cooperation towards sustainable development and increasing biodiversity.

Question 48

What is the CSS?

Answer 48

The Countryside Stewardship Scheme, UK: aims to increase biodiversity across the UK.