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18. Classification, Biodiversity and Conservation

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  1. 18.1 Classification

    1. • Species concepts: biological, morphological, ecological

    2. • Three domains: Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya

    3. • Archaea and Bacteria as prokaryotes: differences in membrane lipids, ribosomal RNA, cell wall composition

    4. • Eukarya domain taxonomic hierarchy: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

    5. • Characteristic features of kingdoms: Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia

    6. • Virus classification: nucleic acid type (RNA/DNA), single/double stranded

  2. 18.2 Biodiversity

    1. 18.2.1Ecology terms

      • Terms: ecosystem, niche

    2. 18.2.2Levels of biodiversity assessment

      • Biodiversity assessment levels: - Number and range of ecosystems and habitats - Number of species and relative abundance - Genetic variation within species

    3. 18.2.3Importance of random sampling

      • Importance of random sampling

    4. 18.2.4Methods to assess distribution and abundance

      • Methods to assess distribution and abundance: frame quadrats, line transects, belt transects, mark-release-recapture (Lincoln index)

    5. 18.2.5Spearman's and Pearson's correlation

      • Spearman's rank correlation and Pearson's linear correlation: analyse relationships between variables, biotic/abiotic factors

    6. 18.2.6Simpson's index of diversity (D)

      • Simpson's index of diversity (D): calculate biodiversity, significance of values

  3. 18.3 Conservation

    1. • Extinction causes: - Climate change - Competition - Hunting by humans - Habitat degradation and loss

    2. • Reasons to maintain biodiversity

    3. • Conservation roles: zoos, botanic gardens, conserved areas (national/marine parks), 'frozen zoos', seed banks

    4. • Assisted reproduction in endangered mammals: IVF, embryo transfer, surrogacy

    5. • Reasons for controlling invasive alien species

    6. • Conservation organisations: IUCN, CITES