Species diversity

Question 1

What is species richness?

Answer 1

This is how many different species are found in one place, at one time.

Question 2

What is species diversity?

Answer 2

Takes into account how many different species are found in one place, and how many individual of each species there are.

Question 3

What is biodiversity?

Answer 3

Describes a place in terms of its:
. variety of different species
. variation between animals of the same species
. variation between different ecosystems

Question 4

How do we calculate species diversity?

Answer 4

Species diversity index

DIVERSITY INDEX= total n umber of all (total number of all - 1) / the sum of total number of each (total number of each - 1)

Question 5

Why is an ecosystem with a higher diversity index more stable?

Answer 5

If there is a sudden environmental change, there is a greater chance of the species surviving. A greater species diversity means there is a greater chance of there being some alleles present in the populations that confer a survival advantage. Those with the beneficial alleles to subsequent generations of offspring.