Topic 3.1: Biodiversity Questions

A survey counts the plants in two hay meadows. Define species diversity.

Jaguars are rarely seen in the Cockscomb Basin reserve in Belize. Describe two field methods that could be used to confirm the presence of jaguars in the reserve.

Figure 1 shows the number of species of several groups in the Serrano Highlands and in the world. With reference to the data in Figure 1, calculate the percentage of the world's orchid species found in the Serrano Highlands.

Figure 1 shows the number of detections of pine martens in Glen Arrin Forest in one week, by three methods.

Conservationists want to know whether Sunda pangolins, which feed at night, still live in a forest in Sumatra. State one field method that could be used to confirm their presence without capturing any.

A survey of a wetland counts the number of species of plants, birds and insects, and how many of each there are. State one level of biodiversity, other than species diversity, that the survey does not measure.

Figure 1 shows the number of species of several groups in the Andaman Arc and in the world. With reference to the data in Figure 1, calculate the percentage of the world's mangrove tree species found in the Andaman Arc.

Inuit hunters in northern Canada have observed polar bears and sea ice for generations. Explain how Indigenous knowledge can strengthen conservation decisions.

Few professional taxonomists work in the forests of Papua New Guinea. Outline two ways in which citizen science or parabiologists can improve knowledge of biodiversity there.

Snow leopards are thought to live in a remote mountain valley in Mongolia. Describe two methods that could be used to confirm the presence of snow leopards in the valley.

Figure 1 shows the number of individuals of four plant species at two sites in a wood.

A sample on a lawn contains 16 daisies and 4 dandelions. Calculate Simpson's reciprocal index (D) for the sample. Show your working.

Figure 1 shows soil invertebrate diversity in grazed and ungrazed plots on an upland moor. Outline how data on soil invertebrate diversity shown in Figure 1 could be used by ecologists.

Figure 1 is a fact file on the otters on the River Leddon. With reference to Figure 1, calculate the percentage increase in the number of otters from 1978 to 2022.

Aboriginal rangers in northern Australia manage large areas of savanna. Describe one way Indigenous knowledge can improve conservation decisions.

A country wants to map the wildlife of all its wetlands. Identify two groups, other than scientists, that can contribute to collecting biodiversity data.

A large tropical forest reserve in West Africa is thought to hold many thousands of insect species. Suggest one reason why it is difficult to establish the total number of insect species in the reserve.

A conifer plantation contains many trees but very few species. Define species diversity.

Two garden ponds each hold 5 species of animal and 100 individuals in total. In Pond A each species has 20 individuals. In Pond B one species has 92 individuals and the other four have 2 each. Compare the species richness and the species evenness of the two ponds.

Figure 1 shows bird diversity on farms with hedgerows and on farms where the hedges have been removed. Outline how data on bird diversity shown in Figure 1 could be used by ecologists.