Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Unit F212
Module 3
2.3.1 Biodiversity
2.3.4 Maintaining Biodiversity
2.3.1 Biodiversity
Objectives
Definitions species, habitat, and biodiversity
Levels of biodiversity habitat, species, and
genetic
Measurement of biodiversity by sampling; taking
of random samples
Measurement of species richness and species
evenness in a habitat
Simpsons Index of Biodiversity (D)
calculation of biodiversity using the formula;
significance of high and low values of D
Current estimates of global biodiversity
Definitions
Species
Group of similar organisms (i.e. with similar morphology) which are capable of
interbreeding (mating) to produce fertile offspring (i.e. offspring that can
breed to give rise to more offspring) and are reproductively isolated from other
species
Habitat
The environment in which a particular organism (species) lives e.g
earthworm - soil; fish -pond. Organisms from a single species may live in a
number of different habitats
Organisms are adapted to their habitat. It includes the abiotic (physical) factors
(e.g. soil, temperature, water) and biotic (living) factors (e.g. availability of food,
presence of other organisms; predators)
Biodiversity (biological variety)
The varietyof life forms (the different species of organisms) within a given
ecosystem, biome, or the world. An area with many different species has a
higher biodiversity than one with few species. Identified traditionally at three
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levels habitat, species, and genetic
Habitat Diversity - i.e. the range of habitats in which different species live
Species Diversity - i.e. the number of different species and the abundance
of each species in an ecosystem. Differences in species (e.g. structural (tree
and an ant; functional bacteria that cause decay and those that digest food))
Genetic Diversity - i.e. the variation of alleles within a species (or a
population of species).
Genetic variation between individuals belonging to the same species
A number of genes are the same in different species similar fundamental
biochemistry and cell structures e.g. respiration requires same enzymes
species richness
i.e. the number of species found in a habitat
- species evenness.
i.e. the relative numbers or abundance of individuals in each
species
Species Richness (number of different species in an area)
Number of different species per sample (in an area) is a measure of richness - the
more species present in a sample, the greater the species richness.
Measured by taking random samples of a habitat and counting the number of
different species
Species richness on its own takes no account of the number of individuals of each
species present. - it gives as much weight to those species which have very few
individuals as to those which have many individuals.
Thus, one daisy has as much influence on the richness of an area as 1000 buttercups.
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Field 1
Field 2
Daisies
300
20
Dandelions
335
49
Buttercups
365
931
TOTAL
1000
1000
Sampling Methods
1 Choose an area to sample and sampling method (based on the species)
Plants use quadrat (a frame placed on the ground)
Flying insects / insects in vegetation sweep net (net on a pole)
chemicals to stun insects.
To make fair comparison
Sample randomly; same way of sweeping each time; same number of
times on each habitat. Identify, count and record
Ground animals
pitfall trap
small pit in
the ground)
Aquatic animals - net
Insects
(ground vegetation)
Pooter
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4 Use results to estimate the total number of individuals and the total
number of species In the habitat being studied
5 When sampling different habitats and comparing them always use the
same sampling technique and same procedure e.g. number of
quadrats, number of sweeps with net, method of sweep, number of sweeps
allows fair comparison
Line Transect
A line (rope or tape) taken across a habitat
Take samples along the line
Record all the plants of the sampled species
touching the line at set intervals along it
Belt Transect
Involves placing a series of frame (or point) quadrats along a line at regular intervals
and the organisms in each quadrat identified and their abundance
A belt transect gives both distribution and abundance.
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Answers
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Unnamed Species
A large proportion of species on earth have not been named
Many species are undiscovered or known, but not yet
named
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An estimate of the total number of species is from about 5 million to 100 million
recent estimates are around 14 million. Discrepancies in the estimates are due to:
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Species of flower
Red
White
Blue
Total
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14
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D
Barley field
Wheat field
Under hedge
0.62
0.61
0.86
D is higher under hedge than in field - more different species than in other
fields
Wheat field - mainly wheat with small number of few other species to
provide food for the insects
Number of insects more evenly spread under hedge than open field
Use of chemicals on wheat and not on hedge vegetations affects
species richness
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The greater the species richness and evenness, the higher the number
A community dominated by one or two species is considered to be less diverse
than one in which several different species have a similar abundance.
No need to identify organisms to species level
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Climate change
Increase in the levels of pollution
New disease
Arrival of new pests
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Agricultural
Source of food for humans and livestock; wider range of food sources in case of
disasters (e.g. potato famine -1845 2 varieties of potato destroyed by disease
caused famine)
Source of plants for cross breeding desired characteristics ) e.g. drought & disease
resistance; faster growth; nutritional characteristics; tolerance to
climate
change, increase yield
Source of natural predators to pests e.g. frogs, birds, hedgehogs are predators of
pests (e.g. snails)
Pollinators insects (bees and butterflies)
Low fat; ripening at same time
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the migration of species to more suitable areas, or, may cause the
extinction of some.
Climate change occurs naturally, but recently there is consensus that climate
change is a result of the impact of human activity on the environment e.g. global
warming due to the increased emissions of greenhouse gases (such as carbon
dioxide,methane, NO, H2O vapour, CFCs, deforestation)
Climate change leads to
Increase/decrease in the temperature of the earth
The melting of polar ice caps and flooding
Emergence and spread of disease
Change in agricultural patterns
Effects on habitats
Global dimming (air pollution soot)
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Effects on habitats
Uninhabitable area becomes habitable (and vice versa) increase or decrease
biodiversity
Increase or decrease in the range of some species range limit of Sooty Copper
Butterfly has moved 60 miles north in recent decades
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Climate change
New predators being introduced
Destruction of habitats (e.g. by logging; road building) destroys food
sources and shelter
Hunting
Competition for food, shelter, etc.
Pollutants
Poaching
Killed for food
Killing to prevent damage to farmland and settlements
Low population
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E.g. Whales
Endangered, in danger of extinction. main causes of whale deaths include
Entanglement in fishing nets and drowning
Pollutants in the sea
Colliding with ships during migration
Climate change affecting food sources
Culling and hunting
Money can be made from whales
Live whales as a tourist attraction
Dead whales food, oil, making cosmetics (using blubber)
Endangered species can be protected from extinction by
Education raising awareness
Breeding animals in captivity (e.g. zoos) and returning to natural habitat
to create new population
Protecting (conserving) natural habitats
Creating artificial ecosystems (e.g. zoos, aquariums) for the species to
live in
Legally protecting endangered species prevent trapping and captivity
Prohibiting hunting of legally protected species permits to hunt
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issued to certain people
In situ Conservation
Conservation
in situ (on site)
Involves protecting species in their natural habitat methods include:
Protected areas national parks; nature reserves - areas are protected from
developments (industrial, urban) and farming
Control or prevention of species that threaten biodiversity - e.g. grey
squirrels (not native) compete with native red squirrel, causing a decline in red
squirrel population.
Protection of habitats - e.g. conserving wetlands, by controlling water
levels; coppicing (trimming trees) to conserve woodlands allows organisms to
live continuously in their natural habitat
Restoration of damaged areas e.g. a coastline polluted by an oil spill.
Promoting particular species by protecting food sources or nesting sites
Legal protection for endangered species prevent hunting, logging;
countries may not agree
Minimise human impact on the natural environment
Advantages
All required conditions already present; no special provisions required well adapted
Both species and habitat are conserved; less disruptive; chance of population
recovery is greater
Disadvantages
Difficult to control poaching, predators, climate change
Species not accepted by other members of the species already present
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Reserve should meet the needs of indigenous people (hunting; religious; spiritual)
conflict may arise if not considered
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Disadvantages
Only a small number of individuals can be catered for.
Difficult and expensive to create and sustain the right environment.
Less successful than in situ methods many species do not breed successfully in
captivity.
Species cannot adapt when introduced to their natural habitat
Problems of acceptance of introduced member by existing members
Choose individuals from different areas maintains / increases genetic variation
(gene pool)
Choose unrelated individuals - reduces risk of inbreeding between related individuals
Less risk of losing all individuals due to environmental change (e.g. disease)
House in separate centres less risk of losing all individuals due to natural disasters,
human action
Select higher proportion of females
Preserving of species long term measures
Legal protection
Ban cause of endangerment
Protected areas sanctuaries, reserves provide breeding sites
Prevent habitat destruction
Monitoring tagging
Education to public on importance of the species
Sperm and egg banks; seed banks
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Offspring are much less likely to survive and reproduce successfully due to an
increased chance of inheriting harmful recessive alleles from both parents an
offspring with homozygous recessive alleles may lack vital gene products and be
less likely to survive and reproduce successfully.
Zoos keep detailed records detailing the family trees of all their animals
allowing them to ensure that individuals that mate are as distantly related as
possible.
Zoos often swap animals with other zoos to promote outbreeding, to maintain
genetic diversity of the captive populations
Success of release of bred species
Healthy before release
Adequate food supply
Protected reserve
Method to monitor population
Raise public awareness
Prepare animals for survival in the wild
Gradual introduction e.g. via semi-wild habitat
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International level
Promote exchange of information, consultation and notification of any development
that might affect another partner state and biological diversity
Promote the notification of any grave danger that may affect biodiversity
Promote arrangements for emergency responses to situations which may present a
danger to biological diversity
Objection to EIA studies
An EIA study needs to physically investigate the habitat this may possibly leading to
the destruction of habitats and disturbance of the species in their habitats
May cause more disruption than the development itself
Damage to environment/ecosystem
Habitats best left alone (left to nature)
Rare species may be discovered people stealing species for collectors
Need to consider the following in EIA:
Water resources
Drainage
Pollution
Damage & disturbance to habitat
Loss of species and loss of species diversity
Loss of habitat
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