module 4- biodiversity

• species is a breed to produce fertile offspring
• species richness is number of species within an area.
• species evenness is the proportion of species in a community that is represented by each individual.
• genetic diversity is the variety of alleles in a population of a species.
• habitat is the area where individuals within a species live.
• habitat diversity is the range of different ecosystems or habitats within a particular area.
• biodiversity is the variety of life, ecosystems and genetic diversity.
• to measure species richness you can count the number of different species.
• to measure species evenness you would use the simpsons index law
• if the number calculated from the Simpsons index is closer to 1 biodiversity is high, species richness/evenness is high therefore the ecosystem is stable and likely to withstand change.
• if the number calculated from the Simpsons index is closer to 0 biodiversity is low, species richness/evenness is low therefore the ecosystem is unstable and unlikely to withstand change, population dominated by one species affecting key stone species.
• to measure genetic diversity we use the formula  Total number of Polymorphic Gene Loci ÷ Total number of all gene loci 
• increase in population growth can affect biodiversity like hunting animals for their tusks and fur can lead to extinction.
• killing animals for protection like mosquitos reduces biodiversity.
• demand of resources like housing and food can lead to decrease in biodiversity via loss of habitats and killing of animals.
• climate change reduces biodiversity as a loss of habitats though increase of drought,fires,flooding ice caps melting. Temp increase coral bleaching stunting their growth and reproduction.
• monoculture is lands growing one paticular crop.
• negatives of monoculture is that it reduces species diversity, genetic diversity and habitat diversity.
• monoculture reduces hedges which are habitats foe species like bees which would reduce pollination of plants.
• monoculture removes plants from roots which increases soil erosion and a lack of nutrients in soil as well. It also cuts down plant species which reduces likehood of finding potential medicines.
• economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity is soil depletion. Roots stay in ground helping soil to not be washed away. Increasing soil quality and growth of plants making more money.
• economic reasons of maintaining biodiversity is ecotourism as people travel to countries for different habitats and wildlife.
• reasons for maintaining biodiversity economically is the potential sources of medicine that can be found and exploited for medicinal uses.
• reasons for maintaining biodiversity is for the purpose of research that can be beneficial.
• ecological reasons for maintaing biodiversity is because species are part of a food chain/web or part of a habitat.
• ecological reasons to maintain biodiversity is to protect keystone species which are plants or animals that play unique/crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions. Without them they ecosystem would be very different or not exist at all.
• ecological reasons to maintain biodiversity is maintaing genetic resource like the genetic variation of species so they can withstand change and medical purposes through the use of plants.
• aesthetic reasons for maintaing biodiversity is that through protection landscapes for example can be enjoyed by future generations and they are beautiful to look at.
• in situ conservation is protection of animals and plants in their natural habitat.
• ex situ conservation is protection of animals and plants away from their natural habitat. e.f botanic gardens, zoos and seed banks.
• we store seeds than adult plants because cheaper transport, collected without damage to plant, take up little space, less susceptible to disease and great genetic diversity.
• advantages of in situ

  • more likely to survive in wild little human contact
  • can protect whole population
  • less distruption to animals
• disadvantages of ex situ

  • hard to enforce bans on hunters/poachers
  • no protection from climate change
  • cant protect from predation/intraspecific competition
• advantages of ex situ

  • feed animals and well treated for disease
  • mating-artificial selection
  • protection from poachers
  • reduced intraspecific competition
• disadvantages of in situ

  • expensive to set up
  • ethical reasons of caging animals
  • breeding is less successful in captivity
• Convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES)

  • regulate and monitor trade in selected species
  • prohibit commercial trade of wild plants
  • Less endangered animals can be traded
  • ensure trade of animals does not threaten wild populations
• Rio convention on biological diversity (CBD)

  • sustainable use of organisms/habitats/ecosystems
  • share genetic resources and scientific knowledge
  • international cooperation on diversity issues
• Countryside Stewardship scheme (CSS)

  • maintain suitable beauty of countryside's
  • improving habitats for animals
  • preserve historic sites
  • maintain footpaths remove litter and provide bins