5.5 Biodiversity and Conservation

Which index is commonly used to measure biodiversity at the species level?

A. Shannon's Index

B. Simpson's Diversity Index

C. Gini Coefficient

D. Heterozygosity Index

Why is biodiversity crucial for ecosystem resilience?

A. It reduces species richness

B. It enhances susceptibility to diseases

C. It increases ecosystem adaptability to environmental changes

D. It limits resource availability

What is the primary goal of creating protected areas in conservation strategies?

A. To promote urban development

B. To preserve habitats and protect species from extinction

C. To encourage deforestation

D. To increase pollution levels

Which level of biodiversity is primarily concerned with the variety of ecosystems in a region?

A. Genetic Biodiversity

B. Species Biodiversity

C. Ecosystem Biodiversity

D. Functional Biodiversity

How do international agreements contribute to biodiversity conservation?

A. By promoting unsustainable resource use

B. By facilitating collaboration and setting conservation goals

C. By discouraging habitat restoration

D. By reducing public awareness

a) Explain how biodiversity is measured at the species level and describe the use of Simpson's Diversity Index in this context. [4]

b) Discuss the importance of biodiversity for ecosystem resilience and productivity, providing examples where relevant. [3]

a) Discuss the concept of biodiversity hotspots and explain why they are prioritised in conservation efforts. [3]

b) Describe various conservation strategies, including the creation of protected areas and habitat restoration. [4]

a) Explain how biodiversity contributes to ecosystem services and discuss its cultural, economic, and scientific value. [4]

b) Discuss the role of international agreements in conservation and provide examples of such agreements. [3]

a) Define the term "biodiversity" and explain how it is measured at the genetic level. [3]

b) Discuss the significance of genetic biodiversity within a population. [3]

c) Describe the impact of human activities such as pollution and overfishing on genetic biodiversity. [3]

a) Explain the concept of cladistics and how it is used to organise organisms based on evolutionary relationships. [4]

b) Define the terms "clades" and "outgroups" and discuss their roles in cladistics. [3]

c) Illustrate how derived characteristics are used in creating cladograms. [2]