Module 4 biodiversity and evolution

Question 1

Species definition

Answer 1

A group of similar organisms that can freely interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 2

Niche definition

Answer 2

Role of an organism within the habitat

Question 3

Types of biodiversity

Answer 3

Species, habitat, genetic

Question 4

2 components of species diversity

Answer 4

Richness
- number of different species

Evenness
- abundance of each species within the area

Question 5

Types of sampling

Answer 5

Random

Non random
- opportunistic (readily available)
- stratified (characteristic groups)
- Systematic (different areas samples separately using line or belt transect)

Question 6

Random sampling pros and cons

Answer 6

Avoids bias

May not cover all areas of habitat equally
Species with low presence may be missed

Question 7

Opportunistic sampling pros and cons

Answer 7

Easier and quicker

May be biased (overestimate of visible plants)

Question 8

Stratified sampling pros and cons

Answer 8

Ensures all species and areas represented

May lead to over-representation of some areas

Question 9

Systematic sampling pros and cons

Answer 9

Useful when habitat shows a clear gradient in some environmental factor eg. getting drier from pond

Only species on a line measured, others missed so can be underestimate of biodiversity

Question 10

Using quadrats

Answer 10

Grid
Random number generator
Percentage cover or count
Key to identify species

Question 11

Point quadrat

Answer 11

everything a pin touches is recorded

Question 12

Belt transect

Answer 12

Using quadrats
Continuous (Flip-flopping) or interrupted (every X m)

Used when clear gradient in abiotic conditions eg edge of beach or pond

Question 13

Sampling animals methods

Answer 13

• Sweep netting
• pooter to suck insects
• shake tree with sheet under
• Pitfall trap
• light trap

Question 14

Mark-release-capture method of estimating population size

Answer 14

A known number of animals caught and marked and released

Later, a number of individuals randomly collected and number of marked recorded

Estimated pop. size = (First sample size X second sample size) / number of marked recaptured

Question 15

Simpsons index letters

Answer 15

n = individuals of one species
N = total individuals of all species

Question 16

Simpsons index meaning

Answer 16

Probability that any two individuals taken at random belong to different species

Question 17

Consequence of high vs low biodiversity area

Answer 17

High = can withstand change since number of individuals affected is small proportion of total

Low = disease or predator change which affects the dominating species affect the whole ecosystem

Question 18

Factors which affect genetic diversity

Answer 18

Mutations in DNA
Interbreeding between different populations

Selective breeding
Captive breeding

Question 19

Polymorphic genes and how to calculate

Answer 19

Genes that have more than one allele (greater genetic diversity)

Number of polymorphic gene loci / Total number of gene loci

Question 20

How agriculture reduces biodiversity

Answer 20

diversity replaced with monoculture
Removal of hedgerows to make space for large machinery
Pesticides, herbicides
Fertilizers

Question 21

How global warming leads to reduced biodiversity

Answer 21

• polar ice caps melt
• flooding of low lying land
• salt water in rivers
• insect life cycles change (pollinators)

Question 22

Ecological reasons for maintaining biodiversity

Answer 22

Conserving species and habitats helps prevent climate change

Prevents disruption of food chains

Question 23

Ethical reasons for maintaining biodiversity

Answer 23

• organism have a right to live

Question 24

Economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity

Answer 24

• provide resources for drugs, clothes, food etc
• These resources traded on local and global scale
• Ecotourism

Question 25

Aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity

Answer 25

nice to look at so brings joy to people

Question 26

How to manage nature reserves

Answer 26

- Restricting human access - Controlling poaching - Killing or removal of invasive species as they compete with native species for resources

Question 27

Advantages of ex situ conservation

Answer 27

- organisms protected from predation and poaching - health can be monitored and medical assistance given - IVF can be used to increase chance of reproduction - can be used to raise funds

Question 28

Disadvantages of ex situ conservation

Answer 28

- limited genetic diversity - Organisms may behave differently outside habitat - Correct conditions may be difficult to achieve - May not survive reintroduction

Question 29

Advantages of in situ conservation

Answer 29

- conserving both species and habitat - permanently protects biodiversity - Facilitates research - Ecotourism

Question 30

Disadvantages of in situ conservation

Answer 30

- Poaching difficult to control - Tourists can litter or feed - Predators, disease, climate change

Question 31

Seed banks

Answer 31

A gene bank (store of genetic material) Dried and stored at -20C so viable (can be viable for centuries) Tropical rainforest seeds die when cooled and dried

Question 32

Botanic gardens

Answer 32

Harder to get funds than zoos Collecting seeds could damage plants Limited genetic diversity of collected samples

Question 33

CITES

Answer 33

Convention of international trade of endangered species

Question 34

Rio convention of biodiversity

Answer 34

Singed by 150 leaders Maintaining biodiversity

Question 35

Countryside stewardship scheme

Answer 35

Farmers paid to enhance and conserve english landscape

Question 36

Order of classification

Answer 36

Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

Question 37

Features of prokaryote kingom

Answer 37

- no nucleus - circular dna - no membrane bound organelles - plasmids - peptidoglycan cell walls

Question 38

Features of protoctista kingdom

Answer 38

- eukaryote (have nucleus) - membrane bound organelles - no cell wall - some single (amoeba), some multi (algae)

Question 39

Features of fungi kingdom

Answer 39

- eukaryote - chitin cell walls - yeast single celled, some multi - Saprotrophic feeders (external digestion) - Thread like haephae form mycelium network

Question 40

Features of plantae kingdom

Answer 40

- eukaryote - cellulose cell wall - autotrophic

Question 41

Features of anamalia kingdom

Answer 41

- eukaryote - no cell wall - 80s ribosomes - heterotrophs

Question 42

Early classification systems

Answer 42

based on observable features like physical appearance and behaviour

Question 43

What modern classification systems based on

Answer 43

Cytochrome C - protein from respiration found in many different species - the more similar the sequence, the more closely related DNA - base sequences compared