Biodiversity Quiz

Biodiversity

• Definition: Variety of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in an ecosystem or on Earth as a whole
• Types:
  • Species diversity: Number of different species in an ecosystem
  • Genetic diversity: Variety of genes within a species
  • Ecosystem diversity: Variety of different ecosystems
  • Functional diversity: Variety of roles and functions within an ecosystem
• Importance:
  • Maintains ecosystem services (e.g. pollination, pest control)
  • Supports human well-being (e.g. food, medicine, climate regulation)
  • Enhances ecosystem resilience

Sustainable Development

• Definition: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• Principles:
  • Social justice: Fair distribution of resources and opportunities
  • Environmental sustainability: Conserving natural resources and reducing pollution
  • Economic viability: Long-term economic growth and development
• Goals:
  • Eradicate poverty and hunger
  • Ensure access to education, healthcare, and energy
  • Protect and restore natural ecosystems

Climate Change

• Definition: Long-term warming of the planet due to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
• Causes:
  • Burning fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil, gas)
  • Deforestation and land-use changes
  • Agriculture and livestock production
• Consequences:
  • Rising sea levels and more frequent natural disasters
  • Changes in precipitation patterns and weather extremes
  • Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem disruption

Biomes

• Definition: Large, naturally occurring communities of plants and animals that occupy a major habitat
• Examples:
  • Terrestrial biomes: Desert, forest, grassland, tundra
  • Freshwater biomes: River, lake, wetland
  • Marine biomes: Coral reef, open ocean, estuary
• Characteristics:
  • Climate, vegetation, and animal species vary between biomes
  • Biomes are dynamic and can change over time

Populations and Ecosystems

• Population:
  • Definition: Group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area
  • Characteristics: Size, density, growth rate, distribution
• Ecosystem:
  • Definition: Community of living and non-living components interacting in a specific area
  • Characteristics: Energy flow, nutrient cycling, species interactions

Trophic Levels

• Definition: Position of an organism in a food chain
• Levels:
  • Producer (autotroph): Makes its own food through photosynthesis
  • Primary consumer (herbivore): Eats producers
  • Secondary consumer (carnivore): Eats primary consumers
  • Tertiary consumer (apex predator): Eats secondary consumers
  • Decomposer: Breaks down dead organic matter

Human Impact on Biodiversity

• Threats:
  • Habitat destruction and fragmentation
  • Overexploitation of resources (e.g. overfishing, logging)
  • Climate change and pollution
  • Invasive species
• Consequences:
  • Loss of species and ecosystem disruption
  • Decreased ecosystem resilience
  • Negative impacts on human well-being (e.g. reduced food security, increased disease)

Symbiotic Relationships

• Definition: Close and often long-term relationship between different species
• Types:
  • Mutualism: Both species benefit
  • Commensalism: One species benefits, the other is not affected
  • Parasitism: One species benefits, the other is harmed
• Examples:
  • Coral-algae symbiosis
  • Clownfish-sea anemone symbiosis
  • Mycorrhizal fungi-plant symbiosis

Biodiversity

• Definition: Variety of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in an ecosystem or on Earth as a whole
• Types:
• Species diversity: Number of different species in an ecosystem
• Genetic diversity: Variety of genes within a species
• Ecosystem diversity: Variety of different ecosystems
• Functional diversity: Variety of roles and functions within an ecosystem
• Importance:
• Maintains ecosystem services (e.g. pollination, pest control)
• Supports human well-being (e.g. food, medicine, climate regulation)
• Enhances ecosystem resilience

Sustainable Development

• Definition: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• Principles:
• Social justice: Fair distribution of resources and opportunities
• Environmental sustainability: Conserving natural resources and reducing pollution
• Economic viability: Long-term economic growth and development
• Goals:
• Eradicate poverty and hunger
• Ensure access to education, healthcare, and energy
• Protect and restore natural ecosystems

Climate Change

• Definition: Long-term warming of the planet due to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
• Causes:
• Burning fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil, gas)
• Deforestation and land-use changes
• Agriculture and livestock production
• Consequences:
• Rising sea levels and more frequent natural disasters
• Changes in precipitation patterns and weather extremes
• Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem disruption

Biomes

• Definition: Large, naturally occurring communities of plants and animals that occupy a major habitat
• Examples:
• Terrestrial biomes: Desert, forest, grassland, tundra
• Freshwater biomes: River, lake, wetland
• Marine biomes: Coral reef, open ocean, estuary
• Characteristics:
• Climate, vegetation, and animal species vary between biomes
• Biomes are dynamic and can change over time

Populations and Ecosystems

• Population:
• Definition: Group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area
• Characteristics: Size, density, growth rate, distribution
• Ecosystem:
• Definition: Community of living and non-living components interacting in a specific area
• Characteristics: Energy flow, nutrient cycling, species interactions

Trophic Levels

• Definition: Position of an organism in a food chain
• Levels:
• Producer (autotroph): Makes its own food through photosynthesis
• Primary consumer (herbivore): Eats producers
• Secondary consumer (carnivore): Eats primary consumers
• Tertiary consumer (apex predator): Eats secondary consumers
• Decomposer: Breaks down dead organic matter

Human Impact on Biodiversity

• Threats:
• Habitat destruction and fragmentation
• Overexploitation of resources (e.g. overfishing, logging)
• Climate change and pollution
• Invasive species
• Consequences:
• Loss of species and ecosystem disruption
• Decreased ecosystem resilience
• Negative impacts on human well-being (e.g. reduced food security, increased disease)

Symbiotic Relationships

• Definition: Close and often long-term relationship between different species
• Types:
• Mutualism: Both species benefit
• Commensalism: One species benefits, the other is not affected
• Parasitism: One species benefits, the other is harmed
• Examples:
• Coral-algae symbiosis
• Clownfish-sea anemone symbiosis
• Mycorrhizal fungi-plant symbiosis