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Biodiversity can be identified in a variety of forms, including species diversity, habitat diversity and genetic diversity.
The ability to both understand and quantify biodiversity is important to conservation efforts.
Biodiversity is a broad concept encompassing the total diversity of living systems, which includes the diversity of species, habitat diversity and genetic diversity.
Species diversity in communities is a product of two variables: the number of species (richness) and their relative proportions (evenness).
Habitat diversity refers to the range of different habitats in an ecosystem or biome.
Genetic diversity refers to the range of genetic material present in a population of a species.
3.1 all four pages.pdfUse the template below to make notes on the PDF above. Write the notes from memory after you have read the chapter - don't make notes as you read. This is harder but better for long-term recall.
Quantification of biodiversity is important to conservation efforts so that areas of high biodiversity may be identified, explored, and appropriate conservation put in place where possible.
The ability to assess changes to biodiversity in a given community over time is important in assessing the impact of human activity in the community.
Communities can be described and compared through the use of diversity indices. When comparing communities that are similar, low diversity could be indicative of pollution, eutrophication or recent colonization of a site. The number of species present in an area is often indicative of general patterns of biodiversity.
Create a blank Google doc and answer the questions below in it.
1. Define biodiversity.
2. Outline what the difference is between species diversity and species richness.
3. Explain how would you use species diversity to compare two similar communities.
4. Explain why is it not meaningful to compare two very different ecosystems, e.g. tundra and rainforest, using species diversity.
5. Outline how habitat diversity contributes to species diversity.
6. Explain the value of high genetic diversity.
7. Outline two reasons why a species may have low genetic diversity.
8. Outline features a conservation scientist should consider to maintain genetic diversity when designing a protected area.
9. Explain why small populations more likely to suffer from genetic problems.
10. Discuss how this knowledge should influence a breeding programme for an endangered species.
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