Biodiversity

Question 1

Define biodiversity

Answer 1

The variety of living organisms in an area.

Question 2

What 3 levels can biodiversity be considered at?

Answer 2

• Habitat diversity
• Species diversity
• Genetic diversity

Question 3

Define species

Answer 3

A group of similar organisms able to reproduce to give fertile offspring

Question 4

Define habitat

Answer 4

The area inhabited by a species. Including physical factors, like soil and temperature range, and living (biotic) factors, like avalibility of food or presence of a predator

Question 5

Define habitat diversity

Answer 5

The number of different habitats in an area, e.g. a particular area could contain many different habitats- Sand dunes, woodland, meadows, streams etc.

Question 6

Define species diversity

Answer 6

The number of species (species richness) and the abundance of each species (species evenness) in an area

Question 7

Define genetic diversity

Answer 7

The variation of alleles within a species (or population of a species) e.g. variation of alleles within dog species would give rise to different breeds.

Question 8

What is sampling used for?

Answer 8

Measuring biodiversity

Question 9

Why is sampling used to measure biodiversity?

Answer 9

Because it’s too time consuming to count each individual organism in a habitat/impossible

Question 10

How might you sample (generally)

Answer 10

• Choose an area to sample (a small area within the habitat being studied)
• Count the no. of individuals of each species (how this is done depends on what you’re counting)
• Repeat process
• Use results to estimate total no. of individuals/different species

Question 11

Why must you sample as many times as possible?

Answer 11

-To get the best indication of the whole habitat

Question 12

If comparing habitats, what should the sampling used be?

Answer 12

-The same for both habitats

Question 13

What are the two types of sampling?

Answer 13

Random and non random

Question 14

Why is random sampling better than non-random?

Answer 14

Because it helps avoid bias created by the researcher

Question 15

How might you randomly sample?

Answer 15

• Divide the field up into a grid using measuring tape
• Give each square coordinates
• Use a random number generator to select the coordinates

Question 16

Why may a non-random sample be necessary?

Answer 16

-When there’s a lot of variety in the distribution of species in a habitat and you want to ensure all differnt areas are sampled

Question 17

What are the 3 types of non-random sampling?

Answer 17

• Systematic
• Opportunistic
• Stratified

Question 18

Describe systematic sampling

Answer 18

-When sampling is taken at fixed intervals, often along a line e,g, quadrats could be placed in a line (transect) from an area of shade in the corner to the middle of a field

Question 19

Describe opportunisitc sampling

Answer 19

• When samples are chosen by the investigator.
• Used because it’s simpe to carry out
• Data will be biased

Question 20

Describe stratified sampling

Answer 20

-When differnet areas in a habitat are identified and sampled separately in proportion to their part of the habitat as a whole

Question 21

Describe species richness

Answer 21

• The number of different species in an area.
• The higher the number of species the greater the species richness
• Count the number of differnt species

Question 22

What sampling is typically used for measuring species richness and evenness?

Answer 22

Random sampling

Question 23

Describe species evenness

Answer 23

• Is a measure of the relative abundance of each species in an area.
• The more similar the population sizes of each species, the greater the species evenness
• Count the no. of individulas of each species