Biodiversity Overview Quiz

What is genetic diversity primarily a measure of?

How does genetic diversity within a population contribute to its survival?

What can lead to a high proportion of homozygous individuals in a population?

What factors can influence genetic diversity between populations of the same species?

What is a consequence of limited genetic diversity in small populations?

What does biodiversity encompass?

What is species richness?

How does high species diversity contribute to ecosystem stability?

Which of the following is NOT a level at which biodiversity can be assessed?

What characterizes an area with high ecosystem or habitat diversity?

What is an effect of low biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Why are ecosystems such as tropical rainforests considered species-rich?

Which factor is important for assessing genetic diversity within a species?

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variation within and between all forms of life.
It can be assessed at three levels: ecosystem, species, and genetic diversity.
High biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience and allows them to resist change.

Ecosystem Diversity

This is the range of different ecosystems or habitats within a particular area or region.
Areas with a large number of diverse habitats generally have high biodiversity, like a coral reef.
Areas with only one or two habitats usually have low biodiversity, like a large sandy desert.

Species Diversity

High species richness indicates a high number of different species in an ecosystem.
Evenness of abundance, known as species evenness, also plays a role in species diversity.
Greater the number of species and more evenly distributed the individuals, the greater the species diversity.
Ecosystems with high species diversity are more stable and resilient to changes.

Genetic Diversity

Genetic diversity within a species is the variation of alleles and genes in its genome.
Although individuals of the same species have the same genes, they may have different alleles for each gene.
Genetic diversity is measured by the proportion of genes with multiple alleles and the number of possible alleles per gene.
Genetic diversity can differ within and between populations.
Genetic diversity helps populations adapt to changes in the environment, biotic (new predators, pathogens, competition) and abiotic (temperature, humidity, rainfall).
Small and isolated populations, due to inbreeding, have limited genetic diversity, leading to high proportion of homozygous individuals and potentially more genetic diseases.

Test your knowledge on biodiversity, exploring its three levels: ecosystem, species, and genetic diversity. Understand how these aspects influence the resilience and stability of ecosystems. Engage with questions related to different habitats and their species composition.