Biology HL
Biodiversity Threats and Conservation
- 1.
A hypothetical landscape loses its wetland, retains the same total number of bird species in remaining woodland, and its isolated amphibian population loses several alleles. Explain why unchanged bird species richness does not establish unchanged biodiversity, using three levels of biodiversity.
[4 marks] · no calculator - 2.
Hypothetical surveys find 30 plant species in ten quadrats in year 1 and 22 species in five quadrats in year 2. Explain why a biodiversity decline cannot be quantified confidently from these totals. Propose two improvements and state what repeated comparable surveys could establish.
[4 marks] · no calculator - 3.
A hypothetical wild plant is threatened by habitat clearance. Its seeds tolerate drying and storage, but its pollinator also depends on that habitat. Compare habitat protection with seed banking and explain why using both may be preferable to relying on either alone.
[4 marks] · no calculator - 4.
Hypothetical surveys use equal sampling effort and detect ten bird species at each of two sites. At site A, one species accounts for 91 of 100 records and each other species for one. At site B, each species accounts for ten records. Compare species richness and evenness, and explain why equal richness does not imply equal community diversity.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 5.
A hypothetical endangered plant survives in a threatened habitat. A conservation team proposes storing seeds from a single individual and then allowing the habitat to be destroyed. Evaluate this plan in terms of genetic diversity, ecosystem relationships and complementary conservation measures.
[4 marks] · no calculator