Biodiversity

The measure of all the different plant, animal, fungus and other microorganisms found in the world, ecosystem or habitat and the genes they contain

Habitat is where individuals of a species live. The range of habitats in which different species live is the habitat biodiversity. Sand dunes, woodland, meadows and streams

The variation between individuals belonging to the same species, it creates breeds between species such as in dogs and cattle

Species diversity = number of different species and the abundance of each species in an ecosystem (differences) A species = organisms that are very similar in appearance, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics and can interbreed to produce fertile offspring Species richness = the number of species found in a habitat Species evenness = the relative numbers or abundance of individuals in each species

Sample sites are randomly selected, using randomly generated numbers as coordinates or ones on a map Ad: data is not biased by selective sampling Dis: may not cover all areas of a habitat equally species with a low presence may be missed underestimate

Researcher makes decisions based on prior knowledge or during process of data collection Ad: easier and quicker than random sampling Dis: data may be biased due to being enticed by colourful species, overestimate

Dividing areas which appear different and sampling it separately Ad: ensures all different areas are sampled and ensures species aren’t underrepresented Dis: may lead to over-representation of some areas

Taken across fixed intervals of habitat eg line transects and belt transects Ad: useful when a habitat shows a clear gradient in some environmental factor Dis: only species on the line or belt can be recorded, leading to missing species so underestimate

It is impossible to count every individual Sample provides an estimate Sample is representative of the whole area

D = 1 - Σ[(n/N)2]

Use a quadrat Random sampling Use of a transect Quadrat placed at regular intervals Percentage cover to determine the abundance Use systematic sampling within the quadrat Use an identification key Repeat many times Sample at different seasons

Sweep netting