BIODIVERSITY
State 3 factors contributing to the biodiversity in an area
Genetic, habitat, species richness/evenness
Define evolution
the change in heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations
State a direct and indirect threat to biodiversity
poaching and habitat loss
State an in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategy
national parks and zoo
What is rewilding?
Letting habitats recover naturally and reintroducing lost species.
Describe what the Simpson’s Diversity Index and its usage
measures ecological biodiversity where it accounts for both species richness (number of species) and evenness
Describe how competition leads to a “struggle for survival” in natural selection.
When species produce more offspring than the environment can support, the carrying capacity may be exceeded. This leads to a struggle for survival, where not all individuals can survive.
Describe Tragedy of the Commons
The Tragedy of the Commons occurs when individuals overuse a shared resource for personal gain. Because everyone acts in their own interest, the resource becomes depleted or damaged, harming the entire community.
Describe the role of seed banks and botanic gardens in conserving plant biodiversity
Seed banks store seeds to preserve genetic diversity and act as a backup against extinction. Botanic gardens grow endangered plants in safe conditions and support research, education, and conservation
Describe the main features of rewilding and habitat restoration
Rewilding restores ecosystems naturally with minimal human control, e.g., Knepp Estate. Habitat restoration actively repairs ecosystems by replanting native species, removing invasives, or restoring degraded land
Explain how biodiversity can contribute to the resilience in an ecosystem
Biodiversity allows different species to perform key roles, so ecosystems recover faster and stay stable when disturbances occur.
Explain how advantageous characteristics become more common in a population over generations.
Advantageous traits increase in a population over generations as individuals with them survive and reproduce more.
Explain how overharvesting can lead to the extinction of a species.
Removes individuals faster than a species can reproduce, causing population decline and potentially leading to extinction.
Explain how a mixed conservation approach can be effective in conserving biodiversity,
Mixed approaches combine both methods. Protecting flagship and keystone species helps conserve entire ecosystems.
Explain how ecosystem services improve when habitats are restored or rewilded
Ecosystem services improve as restored habitats recover. Vegetation growth sequesters carbon, wetlands regulate floods, and diverse habitats support pollinators and wildlife
Distinguish species richness and evenness
Species richness is the number of species in an ecosystem, while species evenness shows how evenly individuals are distributed among them.
Distinguish between genetic variation and selection pressure in the process of natural selection.
Genetic variation is differences between individuals; selection pressure is an environmental factor that favors certain traits.
Distinguish between direct and indirect human threats to biodiversity, giving an example of each.
Direct threats are human actions that immediately reduce species numbers, like poaching. Indirect threats affect biodiversity by altering the environment, such as climate change.
Compare species-based conservation and habitat-based conservation
Species-based conservation protects individual species but has limits. Habitat-based conservation protects ecosystems and many species. One is specific; the other is broad.
Compare the outcomes of natural regeneration (rewilding) versus human-led restoration
Natural regeneration (rewilding) relies on self-regulating processes and reintroduced species, often creating balanced ecosystems. Human-led restoration actively repairs habitats through planting, invasive species removal, and habitat management.
To what extent is the IUCN list effective in protecting biodiversity?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List is partly effective because it identifies endangered species and guides conservation efforts. However, it does not enforce protection, so its success depends on how well governments act on its information.
To what extent does natural selection guarantee the survival of the best-adapted individuals in a population?
Natural selection does not fully guarantee survival of the best-adapted individuals. While they have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing, chance events and environmental changes can still affect survival. Less-adapted individuals may also survive and reproduce, so survival is not certain.
To what extent is human activity the main cause of biodiversity loss compared to natural factors?
Human activity is a major cause of biodiversity loss, altering habitats, overexploiting species, and introducing invasive species, with impacts far greater than natural factors.
Evaluate the effectivness of ONE ex-situ conservation
Zoos are a moderately effective form of ex-situ conservation. They help prevent extinction through captive breeding and raise public awareness, but face limits like reintroduction challenges, inbreeding, and welfare concerns. Overall, they work best alongside protecting species in the wild.
Evaluate the extent to which large-scale rewilding projects successfully restore ecosystems,
Large-scale rewilding restores biodiversity and ecosystem services effectively. Knepp Estate and Affric Highlands increased species diversity, natural processes, and ecotourism. Limitations include land-use conflicts, cost, predator management, and economic dependence on tourism. Success depends on careful planning, funding, and local support.