Biodiversity

09/05/22
Key words: Biodiversity hot spot, endemism

Starter: What have these pictures got to do with

biodiversity?
 The big picture: “What is biodiversity
and how can it be measured?”
Learning outcomes
To describe what we mean by biodiversity and
endemism.
To analyse how biodiversity can be measured
and interpreted.
To evaluate the value of biodiversity hotspots
and the problems in conserving endemic species.
Specification link: “Explain the terms biodiversity and endemism and describe
how biodiversity can be measured within a habitat using species richness and
within a species using genetic diversity, e.g. variety of alleles in a gene pool.
LO: To describe what we mean by biodiversity.

Task
• What does biodiversity mean?

• What does endemism mean?

Extra challenge: What do we mean by a “biodiversity hotspot?”

 Biodiversity has 3 components
Species diversity

• the number of different species

• The abundance of each species in an area.
• (the more species present the greater the diversity)

Genetic diversity
• this refers to the genetic variation between members of a
species.
• The variation of alleles within a species (or a population of a
species)
 Biodiversity has 3 components
Ecosystem diversity

• this refers to the variety of different habitats in an

ecosystem:
• the more different habitats there are the greater the
species diversity.

The working definition is: Biodiversity is the number and

variety of species.
Endemism
• When a species is unique to a single place (the giant tortoise
is endemic to the Galapagos Islands)
 Biodiversity

Total number of species = 1.66 million

 How can biodiversity be measured?
• Distribution
• Where the species is found

• Abundance
• How many of each species are present
• Estimating abundance
• Take a representative sample
• Multiply up
 Measuring distribution- sampling
• Quadrats
• Choose a suitable quadrat size
• Place quadrat at random
• Identify plants
• Measure their abundance
• Transects
• Put a tape measure across the habitat
• Record all species touching the line
• Can record at intervals
 Measuring abundance
• Abundance
Percentage Cover
scale – subjective
•• ACFOR scalesof quadrat’s area occupied by the species
Proportion
• Abundant
• Grids can help with estimates
• Common
• Use a point frame within a quadrat
• Frequent
• Include bare ground
• Occasional
• Rare
• Species frequency
• Proportion of quadrats with the species present
 Simpson’s diversity Index
• Measure of biodiversity taking into account
species richness and species evenness

• Formula
• D = N(N-1) / ∑n(n-1)

• n = number of individuals of a particular species

• N = total number of all individuals of all species
LO: To analyse how biodiversity can be measured and
interpreted.
To evaluate the value of biodiversity hotspots and the
problems in conserving endemic species.

Task
Using your text books/ phones complete the
worksheet (double sided) on biodiversity and
endemism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2CQ9PyktOM

Extra challenge: Question about lonesome George

 Task
Exam questions on biodiversity: Page 91 in
yellow booklet

Question 3 and 4 only

 Plenary
Self-assessment of answers

• 3. (a)Number / range / variety of species;

Range of taxa / eq;
{Variety / diversity} within species;
{Variety / diversity} of ecosystems;2

• (b) {Identify / classify / name} organisms / eq;

Recognise new species; 2

• (c)Correct working (56 250 – 53 820) (= 2430) ÷ 56250 x 100;

Correct answer = 4.32 % / - 4.32 % ;
2 marks for correct answer with no working shown;; 2

 
(d) 1. Loss (of rainforest) is not that bad;
2. Main means of subsistence / e.g. {growing food / obtaining
fuel / building materials} / eq;
3. Can’t afford reforestation;
4. Can’t afford fertilisers (to improve existing farmland);
5. Allows exploitation of resources for profit / benefit economy;
6. Too difficult to enforce regulations;
7. {Ancient / existing} land rights;
[Maximum 4 marks from marking points 1-7]
8. Benefit tourism in Honduras;
9. Rainforests help to {prevent / slow down} global warming / reference to CO2 levels;
10. Reference to other environmental benefit of keeping forests;
11. Prevent loss of {habitat / niches / shelter / eq} for wildlife;
12. Prevent loss of {species / biodiversity};
13. Provide means of sustainable exploitation (of forest);
14. Prevents loss of potential medicine;
15. Regulation would make government unpopular; 5
[Maximum 4 marks from marking points 8-15]
• 4. (a)The number of (different) species in a {habitat / environment / ecosystem/eq}; 1

(b) Award one mark for each of the following points in context to a max of 3 marks.
1. both have decreased;
2. decrease in roadside verges greater than in hedgrows;
3. {percentage / proportional} decrease greater in roadside verges greater than in hedgerows;
4. roadside verges greater species richness in 1990 and in 1998;
5. correct manipulation of figures to quantify any comparison; 3

 
(c) Award one mark for each of the following points in context to a maximum of 3 marks.
1. idea that species richness gives no indication of abundance of each species;
2. idea that biodiversity refers to {variety/ e.q.} of organisms;
3. ref to use of a calculated biodiversity index e.g. Simpson’s;
4. using species richness value / number of different species;
5. number of individuals in each species recorded;
6. ref to genetic diversity; 3