Biodiversity Mini-Lesson

Multiple Choice

What is biodiversity?

• 
  The variety of Earth's species, the genetic material they contain, and the ecosystems in which they live

• 
  The conservation efforts to protect wildlife

• 
  The study of extinct species

• The climate patterns of different regions

• Each species plays a particular role in natural community.

• The loss of a single species can have consequences for the entire community.

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​Species Diversity

It simply means the total number of plant, animal, and insect species that can be found in a particular region.

• Species that share a region develop a dependence on each other to survive.

• If one species is removed from the region, it affects every other species living there.

• Food Chains and Food Webs are two examples of Species Interdependence.

​Species Interdependence

Multiple Choice

What does species diversity refer to?

• 
  Difference in DNA among individuals

• Variety of habitats, ecosystems, and communities

• Variety of species in a given area

• 
  The interaction between different species

If each member of a species is too much like the other members, it's harder for that species to make the changes necessary in order to survive. 

Multiple Choice

What is genetic diversity?

• 
  The interaction between different species

• 
  Difference in DNA among individuals

• Variety of habitats, ecosystems, and communities

• The number of species in a given area

Multiple Choice

Why is greater genetic diversity important for a species?

• 
  It ensures that all individuals look the same

• 
  It increases the risk of genetic diseases

• 
  It decreases the chance of survival and adaptation

• 
  It provides a better chance of surviving and adapting to environmental changes

Multiple Choice

What does ecosystem diversity encompass?

• 
  The number of species in a given area

• 
  Variety of habitats, ecosystems, and communities

• 
  The genetic variation within a species

• 
  The study of animal behavior

Multiple Choice

What does biodiversity ensure in ecosystems according to the Insurance Hypothesis?

• 
  It ensures that ecosystems are less susceptible to diseases.

• 
  It ensures that individual species within an ecosystem will not go extinct.

• 
  It ensures ecosystems against a decline in their functioning because many species provide greater guarantees of functioning even if others fail.

• 
  It ensures that ecosystems will remain unchanged despite environmental variations.

Multiple Choice

Why is biodiversity vital to maintaining natural capital?

• 
  It increases pollution and waste.

• 
  It reduces the availability of raw materials.

• 
  It supports economies and keeps humans alive.

• It decreases the quality of ecosystem services.

Multiple Choice

What are ecosystem services?

• 
  Services provided exclusively by domesticated plants and animals

• 
  Benefits obtained from the systematic exploitation of natural resources

• 
  The direct and indirect contributions ecosystems provide for human wellbeing and quality of life

• Services provided by human-made systems to maintain ecological balance

Multiple Choice

What does 'resilient' mean in the context of ecosystems?

• 
  Ecosystems that are unaffected by any changes

• 
  Ecosystems that are affected by change, but bounce back and regain function

• 
  Ecosystems that are affected by change and do not regain function

• 
  Ecosystems that resist change and never alter their state

Multiple Choice

Why do some people believe we should preserve biodiversity for ethical reasons?

• 
  Because it is legally required

• 
  Because they believe species and ecosystems have a right to exist regardless of their value

• 
  Because it contributes to the economy

• 
  Because it ensures their personal enjoyment

Match

Match the following

• biodiversity

• ecosystem diversity

• genetic diversity

• species diversity

• ecosystem services

The variety of life found on Earth.

Variety of habitats

Variation in genes within species

Variety of species in a given area

how ecosystems contribute to humans

• The variety of life found on Earth.

• Variety of habitats

• Variation in genes within species

• Variety of species in a given area

• how ecosystems contribute to humans