Biodiversity

• Biodiversity – a measure of the diversity of an

  ecosystem/habitat

  • Takes account of the number of different species - Species richness

  • & the population size of each species - Species abundance
• Key points for exam questions –

  • The calculation

  • Define species richness & species abundance

  • Some species may be present in very large or very small

  numbers (depends on adaptations to that habitat)

  • The greater the diversity of plant species, the greater the

  variety of food sources & habitats for animal species

  • Factors that will reduce/increase biodiversity

  Farming practices e.g. monoculture, hedgerow removal

  Conservation methods e.g. replant hedgerows,

  leave wild species margins,
• Conservation methods

  Examples include ….

  • Captive breeding & release

  • Habitat restoration/ management

  • Protection of habitats/ecosystems

  • Legal protection of species

  • Quotas for harvesting/ killing species
• Reasons for conservation

  • Increase/ maintain biodiversity of a habitat

  (Important to ensure enough natural resources for humans/ ecological

  stability/ revenue from tourism etc….)

  • Ensuring large population sizes to maintain a high genetic diversity

  • Some species may have important medicinal properties for humans that

  have not yet been discover
• Conflicts between human activities

  & conservation

  • Between farming practices and wildlife.

  (e.g. use of pesticides and insect populations/ natural habitats replaced by

  monoculture crops)

  • Deforestation for crop production/ livestock

  (e.g. destruction of rainforests for palm oil plantations and cattle farming)

  • Habitat destruction for human develop