Which plot has the greatest species richness?

Answer: Plot 3 (12 species) Species richness is simply the count of distinct species in a sample. Plot 3 has the highest count (12).

Major causes of biodiversity loss (the "evil quartet") include

Answer: Habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, overharvesting (and climate change) These anthropogenic drivers, plus climate change, account for most biodiversity decline.

Species diversity has two components:

Answer: Species richness (number of species) and species evenness (relative abundance) Two communities can have the same richness but very different evenness; both contribute to overall diversity.

AP Biology · Topic 8.6

Biodiversity Practice

Part of Ecology.(SYI-3.A)

Practice questions

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Sample questions

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Sample 1difficulty 2/5
$Three forest plots were surveyed. Plot 1 contained 5 species, Plot 2 contained 8, Plot 3 contained 12. Total individual counts were similar across plots.$
$Which plot has the greatest species richness?$
- A
  $Plot 1 (5 species)$
- B
  $All have equal richness.$
- C
  $Plot 2 (8 species)$
- D
  $Plot 3 (12 species)$
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Why
$Species richness is simply the count of distinct species in a sample. Plot 3 has the highest count (12).$
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Sample 2difficulty 2/5
$Major causes of biodiversity loss (the "evil quartet") include$
- A
  $Excess rainfall, increased UV exposure, soil enrichment, atmospheric warming (and ozone)$
- B
  $Genetic drift, balancing selection, gene flow, mutation accumulation (and inbreeding)$
- C
  $Habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, overharvesting (and climate change)$
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- D
  $Native predation, mutualism breakdown, parasite cycles, disease emergence (and exclusion)$
Why
$These anthropogenic drivers, plus climate change, account for most biodiversity decline.$
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Sample 3difficulty 2/5
$Species diversity has two components:$
- A
  $Habitat richness (number of biomes) and habitat evenness (relative area)$
- B
  $Genetic richness (allele variation) and genetic evenness (allele frequency)$
- C
  $Trophic richness (number of levels) and trophic evenness (energy per level)$
- D
  $Species richness (number of species) and species evenness (relative abundance)$
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Why
$Two communities can have the same richness but very different evenness; both contribute to overall diversity.$
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Sample 4difficulty 3/5
$The species-area curve shown predicts that doubling island area will:$
- A
  $Increase species number, but less than double (S = cA^z, z<1)$
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- B
  $Reduce species number due to competition$
- C
  $Triple the species number$
- D
  $Double the species number exactly$
Why
$Empirical species-area relationships fit S = cA^z with z usually 0.2-0.35; species number rises with area but with diminishing returns.$
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Sample 5difficulty 3/5
$Two ponds were sampled. Pond X contained 50 of species A, 30 of B, 20 of C. Pond Y contained 90 of A, 5 of B, 5 of C. Both have 100 individuals total. Simpson's diversity index D = 1 - sum(pi^2).$
$Which pond has greater Simpson's diversity, and why?$
- A
  $Pond X, because individuals are spread more evenly across species.$
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- B
  $Pond Y, because one species dominates.$
- C
  $Pond Y, because of higher species richness.$
- D
  $Both ponds have equal diversity.$
Why
$D(X) = 1 - (0.25 + 0.09 + 0.04) = 0.62. D(Y) = 1 - (0.81 + 0.0025 + 0.0025) = 0.185. Greater evenness in X yields higher Simpson's diversity.$
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