Topic 3.1: Biodiversity Questions

A student uses an app to record butterfly sightings each weekend and uploads photos with locations. Identify the type of activity this represents and state one benefit for conservation.

State one field method that could be used to confirm the presence of a newly described nocturnal forest mammal in a remote region of Sumatra.

Describe two methods that could be used to confirm the presence of a snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in a mountainous region.

Define the term species richness.

Name one dimension of biodiversity other than species diversity that scientists use when assessing the overall diversity of life in an ecosystem.

Define species diversity.

Identify two groups, other than scientists, that can contribute to collecting biodiversity data.

State what is meant by biodiversity.

State one reason why good biodiversity data is important for conservation planning.

Describe two field methods that could be used to confirm the presence of an elusive mammal species.

Define the term species evenness.

State one reason why good biodiversity data helps conservation planning.

State what a higher value of Simpson’s Reciprocal Index (D) indicates about a community.

A conservationist wants to calculate Simpson's Reciprocal Diversity Index for dragonfly species in a pond. She counts: Aeshna dragonfly = 15, Libellula dragonfly = 9 Sympetrum dragonfly = 6. Total N = 30. Using the formula D = N(N−1) / Σn(n−1), calculate D for the pond. Show all working.

Identify the level of biodiversity that refers to variation within a species.

Identify one group (other than government) that can help collect biodiversity data.

State what is meant by 'genetic variation' within a population.

Define the term species diversity.

State what is meant by 'citizen science'.

Suggest one reason why it is difficult to establish the precise total number of insect species present in a large tropical forest reserve in West Africa.