C4.1

• What is the term used to describe the variety of life on Earth?

  Biodiversity
• What does the prefix "bio" in biodiversity refer to?

  Life
• What does the term "diverse" in biodiversity refer to?

  Differences
• What are the different levels of biodiversity?

  • Ecosystem diversity: Different environments and organisms
  • Species diversity: Variety of species in an ecosystem
  • Genetic diversity: Variation within a species
• What is an example of ecosystem diversity?

  A desert is a different ecosystem than a coral reef
• How is species diversity defined?

  It refers to the many different species present in an ecosystem
• What is genetic diversity?

  Variation among individuals within a species
• What is the estimated number of species on Earth?

  Between 2 and 10 million species
• Why is it hard to estimate the number of species on Earth?

  Many species may not have been identified yet
• What is a challenge in estimating extinct species?

  It is hard to tell how many species once existed
• What do fossil records indicate about biodiversity over time?

  There have been cycles of increasing biodiversity and mass extinctions
• What is the current trend in biodiversity?

  We are currently in a cycle of increasing biodiversity
• What does "anthropogenic" mean?

  Caused by humans
• What are some human activities that contribute to biodiversity loss?

  Overharvesting, habitat loss, and pollution
• How is an ecosystem defined?

  It includes biotic and abiotic factors in a given area
• What are biotic factors in an ecosystem?

  Living organisms like plants and animals
• What are abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

  Non-living elements like water and sunlight
• What is an example of ecosystem loss?

  The Aral Sea's decline due to diverted rivers
• What is the biodiversity crisis?

  An unprecedented loss of ecosystems and species
• What is the role of the intergovernmental science policy platform on biodiversity?

  To compile evidence about the biodiversity crisis
• What does the Simpson's diversity index measure?

  The diversity and evenness of species in an area
• How do you calculate the Simpson's diversity index?

  Multiply total organisms by (total organisms - 1) and divide by the sum of species counts
• What does a high diversity index indicate?

  Lots of different species and evenness
• What is the diversity index for Place A if the total number of organisms is 28?


  1. 7
• What is the diversity index for Place B if the total number of organisms is 27?

  1. 4
• What is the significance of the edge of existence program?

  It prioritizes conservation efforts for unique and globally endangered species
• What does "evolutionarily distinct" mean in the context of conservation?

  Species that have no closely related species
• What does "globally endangered" mean?

  Species with a high likelihood of extinction in all areas
• Why is it important to focus conservation efforts on prioritized species?

  To maximize the impact of conservation resources