Biodiversity

• What is biodiversity?


  Refers to the variety of life on Earth.
• What is genetic diversity?


  The difference in the genes within a species.
• What is species diversity?


  The different species in an ecosystem.
• What is ecosystem diversity?


  The variety of ecosystems on the Earth.
• What is species richness?


  Number of species present in an ecosystem, determined by a quadrant.
• What is Relative Species Abundance (RSA)?


  How many of each species are present in an ecosystem, will determine the dominant species.
• What is percentage cover?


  An estimate of the percentage of a quadrant a species is occupying.
• What is percentage frequency?


  The proportion of quadrants that contain a particular species.
• What is Simpson Diversity Index (SDI)?


  It accounts for both species richness and RSA, a value closest to one is ideal, as it indicates a healthier more diverse ecosystem.
• What is a biotic factor?


  A living factor, the different species.
• What is an abiotic factor?


  The physical surroundings in an ecosystem.
• What is a spatial scale?


  How large an area it covers can be;

  Macro-level.

  Meso-level.

  Micro-level.
• What is temporal differentiation?


  Refers to the time period of which an ecosystem is studied.

  Short term

  Mid term

  Long term
• What are environmental living factors?


  Aspects of the environment that restrict an organisms ability to live there.
• Almost all biotic and abiotic factors are limiting to something.
• How do biotic factors affect an ecosystem?


  Impacts an environments population via predation, parasitism, disease, etc.
• How do abiotic factors affect an ecosystem?


  Impacts an organisms growth and reproductive abilities, impacts both population and biosphere.
• How can an abiotic factors be related to the ecosystem?


  Geography, soil(pH), and humidity (temp.)
• What is an optimal and tolerance range?


  Each species has an optimal range for all abiotic factors, which is the level in which they can best survive.
• How do biotic factors influence an organism?


  All interactions it has with other organisms. It is either interspecific or intraspecific.
• What is intraspecific?


  Within a species, individuals of the same species competing for resources.
• What is interspecific?


  Different species, different relationships, includes predation.
• What is cooperation


  Association between species that benefits both but is not essential for eithers survival.