4.2 biodiversity

• Biodiversity is a measure of the variation found in the living world
• Opportunistic sampling is based on prior knowledge where the researcher selects a sample based on their knowledge of the population
• Stratified sampling is when the population is divided into groups and then the groups are split into subgroups and then sampled seperately
• Systematic sampling is collecting data in an ordered or regular way, e.g every 5 metres
• species are a group of organisms that can be freely bred to produce fertile offspring
• Monomorphism is when a gene has only one allele
• Habitat is the place where an organism lives and the conditions in which it lives.
• Habitat diversity is the variety of habitats in an area.
• Species diversity is a measure of how many different species are present in an area and how many individuals of these species there are
• Genetic diversity is the number of different alleles in a population of a species.
• capture/recapture equation: Population size= no. in 1st sample x no. in 2nd sample/ no. in 2nd sample previously marked
• Examples of sampling equipment are nets, pooter, quadrat, transect and pitfall trap.
• Pooter collects small insects from trees and plants by sucking them into a pot with a tube
• Quadrat is a square grid used to measure the abundance of organisms in a habitat.
• Transect is a line of fixed points that are used to measure the distribution of organisms along a line
• Pitfall trap is a type of trap that is placed in the ground and traps insects that fall into it
• Polymorphism is when a gene has more than one allele, like hair colour and eye colour
• Keystone species: a species that has a disproportional effect on the ecosystem
• Ex situ conservation is the conservation of organisms outside their natural habitat.
• In situ conservation is the conservation of a species in its natural habitat, with the aim of maintaining the species in its natural habitat.
• Wildlife preserves are areas of land that are protected from human activity and are used for the conservation of wildlife.
• Seed banks are used to preserve seeds from endangered species in case they become extinct
• Botanical gardens are collections of living plants and their associated habitats, often with a focus on the conservation of biodiversity.
• species evenness: a measure of how evenly represented the species are
• species richness: a measure of how many different species are present