IB Biology SL A4.2 Conservation of Biodiversity Question Bank

Practise IB Biology SL A4.2 with questions on biodiversity, conservation priorities, threats, ecosystem change and sustainable decisions.

Exam points

measure biodiversity change using species richness, evenness, sampling or a diversity index
connect habitat loss, exploitation, pollution or invasive species to community effects
compare protected habitats and rewilding with captive breeding and seed banks

Covered syllabus points

A4.2.1—Biodiversity definition A4.2.2—Current vs. past biodiversity A4.2.3—Anthropogenic species extinction A4.2.4—Ecosystem loss causes A4.2.5—Evidence for biodiversity crisis A4.2.6—Causes of biodiversity crisis A4.2.7—Conservation approaches A4.2.8—EDGE of Existence programme

[Maximum number: 2]

The tundra ecosystem in Finnish Lapland has a short growing season and a mean temperature of $-2.0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ . It is also naturally grazed by herbivores such as reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Different quadrats were set up to include and exclude the reindeer in both normal and warmed temperatures. Open-topped warming chambers were used to heat both the soil and air in the warmed quadrats. The graph shows the changes in plant richness over five years.

Figure for Question A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity question 1 — IB Biology SL

(a)

State what is meant by species richness.

[ 1 ]

(b)

Suggest how the results of this experiment can be used in the planning of in situ conservation programmes for tundra plant species.

[ 1 ]

[Maximum number: 1]

The North Island giant moa (Dinornis novaezealandiae) went extinct some time between the arrival of humans in New Zealand and the 1800s.

Figure for Question A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity question 2 — IB Biology SL

What do scientists believe to be the cause of this extinction?

Deforestation

New diseases

Competition with other megafauna

Overhunting

[Maximum number: 1]

Data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) indicates that the population numbers of many mammal species are decreasing. The chart shows reasons for the decrease and the number of species in each category of danger.

Figure for Question A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity question 3 — IB Biology SL

Outline how deforestation can affect the richness of biodiversity in an ecosystem.

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Covered syllabus points

A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity question 1

Question (a)

Question (b)

A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity question 2

A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity question 3