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biology > C11 - Biodiversity > Flashcards

C11 - Biodiversity Flashcards

1
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

Variety of living organisms in an area

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2
Q

Why is biodiversity important?

A

All species are interconnected so rely on each other

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3
Q

What assessment is taken before a major project is undertaken?

A

Environmental impact assessment

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4
Q

What levels can biodiversity be studied at?

A

Habitat diversity
Species diversity
Genetic diversity

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5
Q

What’s habitat biodiversity?

A

The number of different habitats found within an area

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6
Q

How are habitat and species biodiversity relation?

A

If habitat biodiversity is greater, species diversity will also be greater

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7
Q

What two factors does species biodiversity?

A

-Species richness: number of different species living in a particular area
-Species evenness: comparison of the numbers of individuals of each species living in a community

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8
Q

What is genetic biodiversity?

A

Variety of genes that make up a species of

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9
Q

What is sampling?

A

Taking measurements of a limited number of imdicyual organisms parent in an area

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10
Q

What can sampling be used to estimate?

A

-Abundance (number of organisms in an area)
-Characteristic if an organism

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11
Q

Two sampling methods?

A

Random
Non-random

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12
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Each individual in the population has an equal likelihood of selection

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13
Q

What is non-random sampling?

A

Sample is not chosen at random

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14
Q

How could you take a random sample at a grass verge?

A

1) Mark out a grid on the grass using two tape measures laid at right angles
2) Use random numbers to determine the x coordinate and the y coordinate on your grid
3) Take a sample at each of the coordinate pairs generated

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15
Q

Examples of non-random samples

A

Opportunistic
Stratified
Systematic

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16
Q

What is opportunistic sampling?

A

-Weakest
-May not be representative of population
-Uses organisms that are conveniently available

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17
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

-Population divided into strata based on a characteristic
-Random sample taken from each sample proportional to its size

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18
Q

What is systematic sampling?

A

-Areas within an overall habitat are identified, which are then sampled separately
-Uses a line transect or a belt transect

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19
Q

What’s a line transect?

A

Marking a line along the ground between two poles
Taking sample at specified points

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20
Q

What’s a belt transect?

A

Two parallel lines marked and samples taken in the area between the lines

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21
Q

Why is a sample not completely reliable?

A

-Sampling bias: selection process might be biased (accidentally/ deliberately)
-Chance: organism selected may not be representative of the whole population (reduced by larger sample size)

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22
Q

How can you sample animals?

A

-Pooter: small insects
-Sweep nets: insects un area of long grass
-Pitfall traps: small crawling invertebrates
-Tree beating: invertebrates lining in a tree/bush
-Kick sampling: organisms living in a river

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23
Q

How do you sample plants?

A

Using a quadrat

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24
Q

What are the two types of quadrat

A

-Point quadrat: frame containing a horizontal bar, pin placed through hole in bar and species in contact with pin are recorded
-Frame quadrat: square frame divided into grid of equal sections, type and number of species within each section is recorded

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25
Q

How do you collect a valid representative sample of an area?

A

Use random sampling technique

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26
Q

How do you use a frame quadrat?

A

-Density: count the number in a 1m by 1m quadrat, gives you density per square metre (absolute measure)
-Frequency: using small grids within quadrat, count number of squares species is present in, convert to percentage (estimate)
-Percentage cover: estimate by eye of the area within a quadrat that a species covered

Take samples at a number of diffeeent points
More samples more reliable
Calculate mean

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27
Q

How can you estimate population size

A

Capture-mark-release-recapture

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28
Q

How does capture-mark-release-recapture work?

A

Capture as many individuals of a species in an area
Mark the organisms
Release them
Wait for sometime
Again, capture as many individuals of a species in the same area
By comparing number of marked and unmarked individuals in second sample, scientists estimate population size

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29
Q

What are abiotic factors

A

Non living conditions in a habitat

30
Q

How can you mean abiotic factors

A

Wind speed: anemometer (m/s)
Light intensity: light meter (lux)
Relative humidity: humidity sensor (mg/dm^3)
pH: pH probe (pH)
Temperature: temperature probe (°C)
Oxygen content in water: dissolved oxygen probe (mg/dm^3)

31
Q

What are the advantages of quick and accurate measurements of abiotic factors using sensors?

A

Rapid changes can be detected
Human error in taking a reading is reduced
High degree of precision
Data can be stored and tracked on a computer

32
Q

How can you calculate biodiversity?

A

Simpson’s Index of Diversity (D)

33
Q

Formula for simpsons index of diversity

A

D = 1 - total (n/N)^2

N-total number of organisms of all species
n-total number of organisms of a particular species

34
Q

What do results of simpsons index of diversity tell you

A

Value between 0 and 1
0 - no diversity
1 - infinite diversity

35
Q

What does a low biodiversity value tell us

A

-Relatively few successful species
-Stressful/extreme environment with few ecological niches
-Relatively few species live in habitat
-Very specific adaptations to environment
-Change in environment would have a major effect on the ecosystem

36
Q

What does a high biodiversity value mean

A

-Large number of successful species
-Relatively benign/not stressful environment with more ecological niches
-Many species live in habitat
-Few specific adaptations to environment
-Change in environment would have a relatively small effect on the ecosystem

37
Q

Why is genetic biodiversity important?

A

More genetic diversity
More likely to be organisms that carry an advantageous allele
More likely able to adapt to changes in the environment
Less likely to become extinct

38
Q

What factors increase genetic biodiversity?

A

-Mutations in DNA: creating new allele
-Gene flow: interbreeding between two populations
-

39
Q

What factors decrease genetic biodiversity?

A

-Selective breeding
-Captive breeding
-Rare breeds
-Artificial cloning
-Natural selection
-Genetic bottlenecks (few individuals survive a change/event)
-Founder effect (small number of individuals create a new geographically isolated colony)
-Genetic drift

40
Q

How do you measure genetic biodiversity

A

By measuring polymorphism

41
Q

What is special about polymorphic genes?

A

Have more than one allele

42
Q

What are genes that do not have multiple alleles called?

A

Monomorphic

43
Q

What’s the formula for the proportion of polymorphic genes.

A

Proportion of polymorphic gene loci = number of polymorphic gene loci / total number of gene loci

44
Q

What is loci?

A

Position of gene on a chromosome

45
Q

What does a greater proportion of polymorphic gene loci mean?

A

Greater genetic biodiversity

46
Q

What are human influences on biodiversity?

A

-Deforestation: permanent removal of large areas of forest to provide wood for building and fuel
-Agriculture: increasing amount of land has to be farmed in order to feed growing population, requiring land to be cleared for monoculture
-Climate change: release of fossil fuels increasing global temperatures

47
Q

How does deforestation affect biodiversity?

A

-Reduces trees present in an area
-Species diversity reduced if a specific species is felled
-Reduces number of animal species present as i destroys their habitat
-Animals forced to migrate increasing biodiversity of other areas

48
Q

How does agriculture reduce biodiversity?

A

-Deforestation
-Removal of hedgerows
-Use of chemicals (pesticides)
-Use of herbicides to kill weeds
-Monoculture

49
Q

Important facts about climate change

A

-Global temperature rise has almost doubled in past 100 years
-Average amount of water vapour in atmosphere has increased since 1980s
-Global ocean temperatures have increased since 1961
-Global SLR by 1.8m/year from 1961-2003
-Mountain glaciers and snow cover have declined
-Long-term upward trend in precipitation has been observed from 1900s to 2005

50
Q

How can global warming affect biodiversity?

A

-Melting of polar ice caps could cause several species to go extinct
-SLR could cause low lying land to flood
-Higher temperatures and lower rainfall could cause several species to go extinct
-Insect life cycles and populations could change, affecting plant pollination

51
Q

What are reasons for maintaining biodiversity?

A

Aesthetic reasons
Economic reasons
Ecological reasons

52
Q

What are aesthetic reasons behind maintaining biodiversity?

A

-Presence of different species enriches our lives
-Provides inspiration to artists
-Patients recover more rapidly when supported by natural environment

53
Q

What are economic reasons behind maintaining biodiversity?

A

-Deforestation can cause soil erosion and desertification reducing ability to grow crops
-Important to conserve all organisms used to make things
-Large scale habitat and biodiversity losses mean species with potential economic importance may become extinct
-Continuous monoculture results in soil depletion
-High biodiversity provides protection against abiotic stresses
-Areas rich in biodiversity attract tourism
-More diversity in ecosystem means more potential products can be manufactured
-Plant varieties are needed for cross breeding

54
Q

What are ecological reasons behind maintaining biodiversity?

A

-All organisms are interdependent on others
-Some species play a key role in maintaining the structure of a community (key stone species)

55
Q

What is conservation?

A

Preservation and careful management of of the environment and natural resources

56
Q

What are the two types of conservation?

A

In situ - within natural habitat
Ex situ - out of natural habitat

57
Q

How are species classified

A

Extinct - no organisms of species exist anywhere
Extinct in the wild - no organisms of the species exist in the wild
Endangered - species in danger of extinction
Vulnerable - species considered likely to become endangered in near future

58
Q

What is sustainable development?

A

Economic development that meets the needs of people today without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs

59
Q

What does in situ conservation maintain?

A

Genetic diversity of species and evolutionary adaptation

60
Q

What active management occurs in a wildlife reserve?

A

-Controlled grazing
-Restricting human access
-Controlling poaching
-Feeding animals
-Reintroduction of species
-Removal of invasive species
-Halting succession (early colonising species replaced over time)

61
Q

Key details about marine conservation zones

A

Less well established that terrestrial ones
Protection against non-sustainable fishing methods
Creates areas of refuge for species populations to grow

62
Q

Examples of in situ conservation

A

Wildlife reserves
Marine conservation zones

63
Q

Examples of ex situ conservation

A

Botanic gardens
Seed banks
Captive breeding programs

64
Q

What are botanic gardens

A

Active management of plant species to provide them with the best resources and conditions to grow

65
Q

What are seed banks

A

Gene bank where seeds stored so new plants can be grown in the future
Dried and stored at -20C to maintain their viability

66
Q

What are captive breeding programmes

A

Produce offspring in a human controlled environment
Aim to create a stable, healthy population and then reintroduce it into its natural habitat

67
Q

What affect does captive breeding have on genetic diversity

A

Reduces it

68
Q

Why may some organisms born in captivity not be suitable or the wild?

A

-Loss of resistance of diseases
-Behavioural differences
-Difference in genetics affecting fertility
-Insufficient habitat

69
Q

What is the role of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in conservation agreements?

A

-Assist in securing agreements between nations
-Publish Red List detailing current conservation status of threatened animals
-Established Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species

70
Q

What is the Rio Convention?

A

Meeting of nations resulting in these agreements:
-Convention of Biological Diversity (sustainable development)
-United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (stabilise ghg conc in atm)
-United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (reduce effects of drought)

71
Q

What is the country stewardship scheme?

A

Local scheme in England that offered governmental payments to farmers and land managers to enhance and conserve the English landscape
Replaced by Environmental Stewardship Scheme

biology (13 decks)

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