KA8- Threats to biodiversity

Question 1

what is the bottle neck effect?

Answer 1

• genetic biodiversity may be reduced
• when a large number of a species is removed from a population
• remaining small population many not have enough genetic variation to respond to enviromental change

Question 2

what can inbreeding result in?

Answer 2

poor reproduction rates

Question 3

what can inbreeding cause?

Answer 3

severe issues for long-term survival

Question 4

what is habitat fragmentation?

Answer 4

• occurs when habitats are destroyed
• small “islands” of habitats remain

Question 5

what are the habitat fragmentations charateristics?

Answer 5

• lower species diversity
• edges degrade resulting in increased competition
• this decreases biodiversity

Question 6

how are these sections of woodland combated?

Answer 6

• by joining these fragments together in the form of habitat corridors which allow access to food and mates

Question 7

what are introduced species?

Answer 7

• when we have moved (deliberately/accidently) a species to new geographical locations

Question 8

what are naturalised species?

Answer 8

• an introduced species which become established within the wild communities

Question 9

what are invasive species?

Answer 9

these are naturalised species (ones that are integrated) that spread rapidly reducing specie diversity as they eliminate natural species

Question 10

how do these invasive species succeed?

Answer 10

• out compete for resources
• hybridise with others
• prey on them
• proliferate as they may be free from predators, parasites or pathogens which would be present naturally in their habitat