Unit 4: Biodiversity

What is Biodiversity? (two are correct)

• Overall organisms on Earth
• The overall health of a species on Earth
• The variety of characterisitics within a species
• The variety of organisms within an ecosystem

Why do tropical rain forests have high biodiversity?

• They have a lot of resources
• They change very little over time
• They have very few predators living there
• They get little sunlight

Why do deserts have low biodiversity?

• Deserts have many predators
• Deserts have few resources
• Deserts have great seasonal changes
• Deserts have low herbivore populations

In the mid to late 1840s, a lot of the potato crops in Ireland died. A disease-causing fungus had infected the potato plants. None of the potato plants in Ireland were resistant to this disease at the time. Based on this information, what can be assumed about the biodiversity of the potato plants in Ireland during this time?

• The plants had low biodiversity because the plants were grown at different locations
• The plants had high biodiversity because none of the plants could resist the fungus
• The plants had high biodiversity because all the plants were grown under the same conditions
• The plants had low biodiversity because none of the plants could resist the fungus

A scientist is studying an ecosystem in which a secondary consumer is going extinct. The scientist notes that there are other animals that can step into the role of the secondary consumer. What can be assumed about this ecosystem based on the given information?

• The ecosystem has low species diversity
• The ecosystem has high species diversity
• The ecosystem has low individual diversity
• The ecosystem has high individual diversity

What are some threats to biodiversity? (two correct answers)

• Reducing what we think we think/need
• overfishing/poaching
• recycling
• habitat loss from urban developments

How do invasive species affect an ecosystem?

• They increase the resources available to an ecosystem
• They increase the biodiversity of an ecosystem
• They compete with native species, often harming them
• They cooperate with native species, often helping them

How are invasive species introduced to an ecosystem?

• Humans bring them over from other locations
• They already live in the ecosystem
• They come from other species
• None of the above

How does habitat loss affect an ecosystem?

• Habitat loss rarely affects an ecosystem
• Habitat loss provides new roles within an ecosytem, creating more compeititon
• Habitat loss reduces the area available to an ecosystem, which creates more compeititon
• Habitat loss provides new roles within an ecosystem, which harms its organisms

What is an ecosystem services provided by bees?

• Bees keep populations of invasive species under control
• Bees help pollinate many farming crops
• Bees help with the formation of new soil
• Bees keep populations of many animals under control